Women’s golf opens season with fifth-place finish at Dordt Invite

SIOUX CENTER, Iowa – On a day in which blustery early morning conditions affected the short game of many performers, the Concordia University women’s golf team opened its 2014-15 season with a fifth-place finish among eight teams at Monday’s Dordt Invite. The Bulldogs used a young lineup of two sophomores and three freshmen, collectively putting up a team score of 376.

Individually, sophomore Kayla Krueger, who hails from Aberdeen, S.D., paced Concordia with a four-place finish among the 54 individuals – all from GPAC schools. Krueger’s score of 87 on Monday was nearly five strokes better than her season average as a freshman.

“It was one of the better rounds she’s had,” fourth-year head coach Brett Muller said. “She was solid all day. She was definitely our highlight of the meet. She kept herself out of trouble. It was a pretty good starting point for her.”

Sophomore Amy Ahlers, a native of Albion, Neb., and the team’s top golfer last season, carded an uncharacteristically high 93 for a 17th-place claim. A fourth-place GPAC finisher in 2013-14, Ahlers came in about eight strokes above her season average from last season. Her play was representative of the high scores across the board on Monday.

First-place Mount Marty turned in a 366, 10 strokes better than Concordia.

“Our team score was certainly higher than we wanted it to be,” Muller said. “We had a lot of strokes from 30 yards and in. We did not do a good job of making the adjustment to the weather conditions.”

Three freshmen all made their debuts and were part of Muller’s varsity lineup. Emma Jacoby (Lincoln, Neb.) tied for 20th with a 96, Ashlen Pospisil (Norfolk, Neb.) recorded a 100 to tie for 33rd and Brenna Gnuse (Holdrege, Neb.) tied for 43rd by turning in a 107.

“Just like some of the freshmen men at their first tournament, there are going to be some jitters,” Muller said. “They a good job of settling in. All three are capable of shooting in the 80s.”

The Bulldogs also had four players compete as individuals on Monday: seniors Jenelle Hallaert, Allie Schieffer and Melissa McIntosh and freshman Lauren Sperry. Among those four, Schieffer had the top score with a 105.

Muller will expect improvement when the team returns to action next week at the exact same course – The Ridge in Sioux Center, Iowa, where GPAC Qualifier No. 1 will take place on Monday, Sept. 15. Muller believes his team has the ability to break 340 with Ahlers capable of cracking the 70s and the others falling in not far behind. Last year’s season low team total was a 358 at the Nebraska Wesleyan Spring Invite.