ST. LOUIS – Every first Monday in May for nearly 50 years, Saint Louis University coaches, donors and players head to the Norwood Hills Country Club for an end-of-the-year celebration.

“It’s really to kick off our summer and it is a way for these Billiken fans to come together and celebrate their favorite team,” Saint Louis Athletic director Chris May said.

About 250 golfers started the day in a shotgun start on the course’s 36 holes. It’s the university’s biggest fundraising event of the year.  

“It’s so cool to see everyone come out and support,” men’s basketball coach Josh Schertz said. “One of the things that’s great is how connected SLU is with the community.”

It’s Schertz’s second Billiken Golf Classic after joining the school’s basketball team last year. It’s a busy summer for Schertz who is just getting settled into to his tenure as head coach and making roster decisions with six new transfers coming in.

“I think always as a coach you are bending your system to your personnel and we are looking at doing that,” Schertz explained. “We will have some new pieces both on the perimeter and the post that will be intriguing to work with.”

Women’s soccer coach Katie Shields was at her 13th annual BGC and is also having to make some roster decisions this offseason with eight of her starters graduating.

“It’s a little refreshing and a little scary for us as a staff,” she said. “I think it’s excitement as we continue to build a culture we are proud of.”

The women’s soccer team is set to start their season on Aug. 10, with the men’s basketball team starting summer workouts in June.