SEWARD, Neb. – After claiming conference medalist honors, it only made sense for senior Amy Ahlers to be awarded the Hauff Mid-America Sports/GPAC Women’s Golfer of the Year, an honor bestowed upon the senior star on Friday (May 11). The GPAC champion Ahlers was joined on the all-conference team by freshman Murphy Sears. The top 10 finishers at the GPAC championships automatically receive all-conference honors. The other five are selected by league coaches.
A native of Albion, Neb., Ahlers shot a cumulative total of 83-76-77-83–319 at the GPAC championships, winning by five strokes over the second place finisher. It marked Ahlers’ third event title of the season and 11th in her impressive career. Not once in nine 2016-17 events has Ahlers failed to place inside the top 10. She also won the CSM/Midland Fall Invitational and the Morningside Spring Invitational. With a season average of 80.27, Ahlers is on track to break her own school record. Her career 18-hole average is 81.77.
The team’s No. 2 all season, Sears missed a top 10 GPAC finish by a single stroke while carding a conference score of 85-90-89-81–345. She saved her best round all season for last, shooting an 81 on the final 18 of the GPAC championships. The Crete native played in all 15 rounds and finished with an 18-hole average of 86.93. She shot an 85 or lower five times during her rookie campaign.
Ahlers has not yet finished her career. She will be heading to Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., for the NAIA women’s golf national championships, May 23-26. Sears will also make the trip and keep Ahlers company along with head coach Brett Muller and assistant Shawn Rodehorst.