VERMILLION, S.D. – Sophomore Murphy Sears and company collectively improved by seven strokes as compared to their team total turned in during Monday’s round of GPAC championships golf. After 36 holes conference play, the Concordia University women’s golf team owns a ninth place positioning. The Bulldogs carded a score of 383-376–759 over two days spent at The Bluffs Golf Course in Vermillion, S.D.
The 376 in Tuesday’s round ties for the second lowest 18-hole score for seventh-year head coach Brett Muller’s squad over eight rounds this fall.
“I felt we played well today,” Muller said. “When we had a poor shot, hole or even round, we bounced back. We started on the back nine, which is the harder nine. We knew making the turn we were going to make a move. I was pleased with our effort and attitude. We improved our overall team score and had three girls individually lower their score.”
Sears has set herself up for potential all-conference honors in the spring. She’s right in range with her 11th-place claim as a freshman last season. Her two-round GPAC score stands at 85-86–171 (+27), putting her in 13th place. By comparison, Sears carded a four-round total of 85-90-89-81–345 during her first run through the GPAC tournament in 2016-17. The Crete native is fully capable of going low, as evidenced by the 78 she shot at the College of Saint Mary Classic on Sept. 27.
Everyone else in the five-person lineup either duplicated or improved on day two in Vermillion. Following Sears were freshman Rebecca Day (97-96–193; T-38th), sophomore Payton DeMers-Sahling (101-94–195; 44th), freshman Haley Nolde (100-100–200; T-47th) and sophomore Paighton Barbre (106-105–211; 52nd).
“Murphy is in a good position to make a move into the top 10 in the spring,” Muller said. “Our team can move up another spot as well. This was a good tournament for us and we will use to build off of going into the spring.”
In the team standings, the Bulldogs were able to distance themselves on Tuesday from 10th-place Dordt (383-390–773) and 11th-place Hastings (397-402–799).
The 2017-18 season will resume this coming spring. The complete schedule is yet to be announced. However, the two spring GPAC championship rounds will be held at Quail Ridge Golf Course in Columbus, Neb., also the site where the conference championships concluded last season.