FREMONT, Neb. – Amy Ahlers began her junior season by shooting the lowest round of her collegiate career while propelling the Concordia women’s golf team to a second-place finish at the season-opening Midland Fall Invite held at Fremont Golf Club on Monday. Collectively, the Bulldogs turned in a team score of 354 in finishing behind only defending conference champion Dakota Wesleyan among the field of eight teams.
The 354 is in the range of last year’s school single-season record average of 352.5. Head coach Brett Muller went with the familiar group of five in a lineup that was rolled out at nearly every tournament in 2014-15.
“We played pretty well,” Muller said. “We would have liked our score to be a little lower, but for the first time out it’s a good spot to be in. Dakota Wesleyan was the only GPAC school to beat us. The biggest positive we take away is knowing we didn’t play our best but were still within nine shots of Dakota Wesleyan. Coming out next time we definitely need to work on our short game from 70 to 100 yards in.”
Ahlers ended her day with a flurry of three-straight birdies to leave the field of 60 individuals in the dust. Her two-over-par 75 placed her five shots in front of the runner up, Dakota Wesleyan’s Lauren Fitts, the two-time defending conference champion. Ahlers, who hails from Albion, Neb., now has six career tournament victories.
“To be able to beat her playing heads up is going to be huge for Amy’s confidence,” Muller said. “Amy had an incredible finish birdying her last three holes.”
Sophomore Emma Jacoby came in next in line with a 13-over-par 86 that slotted her in a tie for fifth. The rest of the five-person lineup included junior Kayla Kruger (91, T-11th) and sophomores Ashlen Pospisil (102, T-31st) and Brenna Gnuse (116, T-53rd).
Ahlers’ four birdies were two more than any other player. Jacoby recorded two birdies.
The three additional players on Muller’s roster competed as individuals on Monday: freshman Mallarie Fila (110, T-42nd), sophomore Lauren Sperry (114, T-49th) and freshman Madison Pitsch (119, T-57th).
As a team, Concordia bested GPAC rivals Midland (377), College of Saint Mary (382), Midland B (395), Hastings (405) and Doane (407).
Ahlers and company return to action Sept. 8-9 when they compete at the College of Saint Mary Classic at Miracle Hill Golf Course in Omaha, Neb.
