SEWARD, Neb. – The first-ever GPAC qualifier hosted by the Concordia University golf program is set to unfold on Wednesday at Highlands Golf Course in Lincoln. The first tee time at GPAC Qualifier No. 3 is slated for 1 p.m. With a two-round total of 345-348–702, the Bulldogs sit in fifth place, 24 strokes behind conference leader Mount Marty.
“The women are very excited about hosting, especially with where we’re at in the standings,” said head coach Brett Muller. “We feel like we can make up some ground with the event being at Highlands.”
GPAC team standings
1. Mount Marty: 346-332–678
T2. Dakota Wesleyan: 345-334–688
T2. Nebraska Wesleyan: 346-342–688
4. Morningside: 342-353–695
5. Concordia: 345-348–702
6. Midland: 356-347–703
7. Northwestern: 363-362–725
8. Briar Cliff: 371-362–733
9. College of Saint Mary: 383-381–764
10. Doane: 379-389–768
11. Hastings: 395-378–773
12. Dordt: 428-419–847
Bulldogs on individual leaderboard
6. Amy Ahlers: 84-82–166
T9. Kayla Krueger: 83-87–170
T19. Emma Jacoby: 93-86–179
37. Ashlen Pospisil: 97-93–190
Muller’s women’s team enters the conference round with momentum after having won the College of Saint Mary Spring Invitational on April 8. It marked the first tournament team victory in Muller’s five seasons leading the program. Individually, two-time all-conference performer Amy Ahlers claimed her sixth career tournament win by shooting a seven-over-par 79. With a team score of 350, Concordia outshot Mount Marty by two strokes.
The Bulldogs’ fifth-place standing in the GPAC is exactly the spot they finished in a year ago when they shot a cumulative score of 343-367-353-361–1,424. Ahlers stayed in the running for GPAC medalist honors all season before finishing runner up to Dakota Wesleyan’s Lauren Fitts, who owns an 11-stroke lead at the top of the 2015-16 standings. Kayla Krueger, currently tied for ninth, finished 14th overall as a sophomore last season. Ahlers, Krueger and Emma Jacoby all earned all-conference recognition in 2015-16.
About Highlands Golf Course: Highlands Golf Course in Lincoln, Nebraska, is an 18-hole, championship, public golf course designed in 1993 by Jeff Brauer. The course has matured beautifully and offers sweeping, rolling terrain that makes the course a pleasure to play. Varying wind conditions can offer a great challenge to the golfers. The course stretches out to over 7,000 yards from the gold markers with a total of four different tees to choose from (White; 5,280 yrds, Blue; 6,022 yrds, Black; 6,523 yrds). The links style course is designed to offer a fair but challenging test for all playing abilities. The course is always in good playing condition. Highlands also has one of the best practice facilities in the midwest and a pro shop that is well stocked with name brand golf equipment and apparel.
Website: http://lincolncitygolf.org/highlands/
Tee times (Wednesday, April 13)
1 p.m. | Hole No. 1 – Morningside, Concordia, Midland
1 p.m. | Hole No. 10 – Doane, Hastings, Dordt
1:37 p.m. | Hole No. 1 – Mount Marty, Dakota Wesleyan, Nebraska Wesleyan
1:37 p.m. | Hole No. 10 – Northwestern, Briar Cliff, College of Saint Mary