Ahlers’ career best round has Bulldogs in first after day one in Sioux City

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Amy Ahlers continues to raise the bar in her sophomore season. On Thursday the native of Albion, Neb., carded a career best 77 to put herself and the Concordia University women’s golf team in first place after day one of two at the Briar Cliff Fall Classic held at Two Rivers Golf Course in Sioux City, Iowa.

Concordia’s Thursday team total of 338 also represents a season best and broke a program record for the Bulldogs' best ever round. The previous school record was held by the 1997-98 team that carded a 352.

Concordia is 12 strokes ahead of Northwestern atop the leaderboard.

“I’m very pleased with the team performance,” head coach Brett Muller said. “The difference was having three in the 80s and one in the 70s.

“Northwestern finished second at the first GPAC qualifier so I’m sure we’ll get their best shot on Friday. We will have to play well to stay in first.”

Ahlers, who shot a 37 on her front nine and 40 on her back nine, has a five-stroke lead over both Northwestern’s Emma Wynja and Briar Cliff’s Dawn Chapman at the top. Last season Ahlers claimed medalist honors at two of the four GPAC qualifiers and is no stranger to the No. 1 position.

“She came back strong,” Muller said. “She was actually a little disappointed because she played better than her score. She had a little trouble with the putter. She missed some puts she normally makes, but both her and the team are in great position.”

Freshman Emma Jacoby, coming off a career low 80 at Sunday’s Peru State Invite, turned an 86 on Thursday to place second on the team and in a tie for fourth among the 49 golfers in the field. The rest of the lineup included sophomore Kayla Krueger (87 – 6th), freshman Ashlen Pospisil (88 – T7th) and senior Allie Schieffer (102 – T38th).

The 88 was a career low for Pospisil, a native of Norfolk, Neb.

“That’s about what we expect from Ashlen,” Muller said. “It was good to see her perform like that and hopefully it will give her confidence moving forward.”

Muller also took four competitors who played purely as individuals: freshman Brenna Gnuse (93 – T27th), seniors Jenelle Hallaert (100 – 36th) and Melissa McIntosh (108 – T45th) and freshman Lauren Sperry (120 – 49th).

The second round of the Briar Cliff Fall Classic picks up on Friday with a 10 a.m. shotgun start from the same course.

“I’m looking forward to a great day with more great weather,” Muller said.