"Corie is the first one who said why can't we be Top 25?" Biffle said. "Everytime we'd move up in the rankings we'd get so excited; we're not used to being on the first page (Top 50). And Corie's like, 'Why can't we keep moving up?' The rest of us were like, 'You're right.' "

The Rainbow Wahine have top-six finishes in their last seven events, including a second in the fall's Kent Youel Invitational and a low round of 291 (best four of five scores). Gammie's five-shot victory at the Heather Farr Memorial in October was the program's first individual championship in 20 years. She was named national player of the week.

"It's been amazing, really," said Biffle, almost in awe.

This is Hawai'i's finest season, by far. If the 'Bows finish sixth in the WAC for a third straight year — and all the WAC teams have taken turns beating each other this season — or somehow don't get into regionals, it will be a huge disappointment.

Every player has contributed at pretty much every tournament, making this unheralded bunch a dangerous entity: Dark horse with depth.

"On all the teams I competed on and coached, it comes down to the No. 4 or 5 players," said Biffle, who was part of five national titles when she played and coached at Arizona State. "It's their scores that are going to win you championships."

These 'Bows with nothing to lose, finally have enough experience to feel comfortable and have bonded so seamlessly most spent their "off" week during Spring Break golfing together on Maui.

The depth has taken the pressure off Gammie, a three-time all-WAC selection, to shoot a low number every round. That has translated into a drastic stroke-average drop of two full shots, to just over 74.

Gammie's swing is solid. Her short game can be brilliant. And, for the first time, she believes she can create a good score even on a bad day, one of the toughest tasks in a game that relentlessly messes with your head.

"She really enjoys the competitiveness of it," said Jerry King, Gammie's swing coach and Director of Guest Relations at Kapalua Golf Academy. "She's staying strong when she's in the hunt, making putts when she has to. That's where I've seen her improve most. I've really seen her become a leader."

Her inspirations now are her teammates, that elusive regional slot and earning medalist honors next week — a goal she and King set when she was a freshman. Her best WAC finish was a share of 11th last year, when she opened with 69.

When it's over, Gammie will graduate in business management and psychology and probably work in her parents' medical supply business (father Paul was a UH swimmer).

She's left the game before, pulling out of every summer event but one after a discouraging junior year in high school. A second-place Junior World finish caught Stubblefield's eye and "rejuvenated" Gammie, reminding her "this is what I do, what's fun for me."

But a pro future, and the money and drastic changes it requires, are not appealing.

"Golf has never really been my life. There's no doubt I love the game and love competing and ... to just drop it is kinda weird," Gammie admitted. "But I don't think I want to pursue the pro thing. It's a completely different lifestyle. And the difference between those who are really good and those who are good is not very much."

What she knows for sure now is that UH is very good. She hopes it will only get better. So does Biffle, who calls Gammie "the best all-around student-athlete I've ever coached."

"It's great she chose to stay in Hawai'i, stay home," Biffle said. "I have a hard time with that. So many great young Hawai'i players are coming up, but they all want to go to the Mainland. I wish just one or two would stay and see what a great opportunity it is to be here. I think it would help them in the long run. It would mean a lot to me."

NOTES

Australian Kimberely Marsden signed a letter of intent to play for the 'Bows in the fall. ... Kamehameha Schools graduate Mari Chun, a sophomore at Stanford, is 29th in the latest national ranking.

Reach Ann Miller at amiller@honoluluadvertiser.com.