Peck cards third-place round at Midland Invite

FREMONT, Neb. – Tee-time temperatures stood at a brisk 37 degrees as the Bulldog women’s golfers began the spring season at the Midland Spring Invite in Fremont, Neb, on Wednesday morning. Concordia senior Chelsea Peck, who finished the fall season with a 42 on the back nine at GPAC Qualifier No. 2, carded an 89 to tie for third amongst a field of 52 individuals in Fremont.

“It was a chilly start to the season,” Bulldog head coach Brett Muller said. “But we did a good job being prepared. They never used it as an excuse.”

With Concordia’s top golfer in the fall, Mackenzie Deutschmann, missing the spring season to student teach, the Bulldogs will look to Peck to lead the way. The Lincoln native’s six-over-par performance was one stroke off of second place and six off of first place. The 89 matched her score from the second GPAC qualifier back on Oct. 3.

“Chelsea was our highlight today,” Muller said. “She was pretty consistent throughout the day. She three-putted three times, otherwise she may have won it. I was real pleased with her effort.”

As a team, Concordia tied for sixth with a combined total of 397 among the team’s top four golfers. Sophomore Melissa McIntosh came in after Peck with a 99, senior Madison Phillips posted an even 100, sophomore Jenelle Hallaert notched a 109 and sophomore Allison Schieffer, participating in her first varsity meet, carded a 121.

Muller says Schieffer will be in competition with freshmen Gretyl Bremer and Kristin Remm for the fifth spot in the varsity lineup as the spring season continues.

Despite a lack of practice time this spring due to chilly weather, Muller believes the Bulldog women will make a leap forward after a difficult fall season. Concordia sits in 11th (415-392–807) in the GPAC after the first two qualifier events of the season.

“Everyone on the team is real positive,” Muller said. “We think we can improve on what we shot today. We’ll get back out there and show that we are better than we golfed during the fall semester.”

Midland won the team title with a score of 365 on Wednesday. Dordt’s Renae Visser captured medalist honors with an 83, five shots better than the second-place finisher.

The third women’s GPAC qualifier will take place Tuesday, April 9 in Hastings, Neb.