YORK, Neb. – Entering Tuesday (Sept. 30)’s round, Concordia University, Nebraska Women’s Golf held hopes of claiming a championship. A tough day at the office meant the Bulldogs settled for second place at the two-round York University Fall Invite played at York Country Club. On the individual leaderboard, senior Emery Custer (second) and sophomore Savannah McFalls (third) earned top 10 placements.
Head Coach Brett Muller’s squad has placed second at each of its four tournaments this season in a show of vast improvement compared to 2024-25. The Bulldogs were represented in York by two groupings. The ‘A’ team shot 338-342–680 and the ‘B’ team shot 407-405–812 on the par 70 course.
“We thought we could improve our individual scores (in round two),” Muller said. “The pins were very difficult the last two days. We really struggled with our putting. We had way too many putts … When you look at where we were last year as far as team scores go, we have improved a lot. We haven’t seen everyone in the GPAC, but we expect to be much more competitive within the conference.”
The string of top five finishes for Custer continues. Her respective tournament placements this season have been third, second, first and second. The Broken Bow, Neb., native shot 82-81–163 at the York Invite, putting her seven strokes off tournament titlist Micaela Suhl of Park University (Mo.). Custer had been coming off a championship at the Siouxland Invite (first career tournament win). The Omaha native McFalls nearly matched Custer as she shot 82-83–165 for the tournament. McFalls birdied hole 5 during round two.
The remainder of Concordia’s top five included freshmen Olivia James (87-88–175) and Amelia Ptacnik (87-93–180) and senior Maddie Lewis (90-90–180). Each of the top five placed 16th or better in a field of 41 golfers. James missed the top 10 by three strokes. In leading the ‘B’ team, freshman Kaylee Carlson shot 94-94–188 and placed 21st.
After leading the Bulldogs by only two strokes after round one, Park ran away with the team title on Tuesday. The Pirates carded a two-round team total of 336-324–660. Concordia placed in front of three GPAC rivals at the York Invite: College of Saint Mary (697), Mount Marty (702) and Hastings (740). Through eight rounds (four events) this fall, the Bulldogs are averaging a varsity 18-hole team score of 332.5.
Bulldogs at the York Fall Invite
A Team: 338-342–680 (+120)
2. Emery Custer: 82-81–163
3. Savannah McFalls: 82-83–165
11. Olivia James: 87-88–175
T16. Maddie Lewis: 90-90–180
T16. Amelia Ptacnik: 87-93–180
B Team: 407-405–812 (+252)
21. Kaylee Carlson: 94-94–188
29. Makenzie Hughes: 100-103–203
31. Audra Poffinbarger: 104-104–208
34. Abigail Kollbaum: 114-106–220
NA. Emma McCoy: 109-NA
35. Brielle Cook: 110-111–221 (individual)
The final event remaining on the fall semester slate is the Nebraska Intercollegiate. State bragging rights will be on the line as part of the event that will take place at Fremont Golf Club in Fremont, Neb., Oct. 6-7. The Bulldogs will attempt to move up from their fifth-place finish at the 2024 Nebraska Intercollegiate.