NORTH SIOUX CITY, S.D. – Concordia University, Nebraska Women’s Golf placed second at four separate tournaments last fall and then opened this season as the Mount Marty Invite runner up. On Wednesday (Sept. 16) in North Sioux City, S.D., it was their time. The Bulldogs finished their round at Two Rivers Golf Club and then waited roughly two hours for a team playoff forced by Morningside. Ultimately, a clutch birdie from sophomore Olivia James in the playoff helped lift Concordia to a championship at the Lila Frommelt Fall Classic hosted by Briar Cliff.
Head Coach Brett Muller’s varsity group shot a team score of 320 (+36) in the single round event. The program captured its first tournament title since winning the Matthew Goette Fall Classic in September 2020.
“These are tough to come by,” Muller said. “We were talking in the van after the tournament – nobody had a fantastic day individually, but we had a lot of B-plus to A-minus golf. We didn’t have our best on the front nine and then rebounded on the back nine. We had a lot of good scores on the back nine. Amelia (Ptacnik) was huge. She played her last five holes at minus-one.
“To get into that situation in a playoff and capitalize is really satisfying. I told the team that regardless of the outcome, it would be an experience they’ll remember forever. It’s so unique to have a team playoff.”
The Bulldogs rose to the top of the Frommelt Classic leaderboard with a balanced lineup. Concordia placed four individuals in the top 13 of a field of 76 golfers. The lead Dawgs were junior Savannah McFalls (eight-over-par 79), sophomore Olivia James (80), graduate student Maddie Lewis (80) and sophomore Amelia Ptacnik (81). McFalls tied for fourth while James and Lewis held down spots inside the top 10. Junior Makenzie Hughes rounded out the varsity lineup with a 92.
Concordia was also represented by a junior varsity that shot 382 (+98) in Wednesday's round. Freshman Mia Ochsner starred in shooting an 85 to pace the second grouping. It was a career best for the Saronville, Neb., native.
It was cool, damp and overcast in North Sioux City. In leading the way, McFalls recorded 11 pars on her day. James and Lewis posted 10 pars apiece. Collectively, their efforts helped hold off conference rivals in Morningside, Briar Cliff (326) and Dordt (326) in the top four of the team standings. The Bulldogs defeated the Mustangs in one playoff hole. Meanwhile, Briar Cliff’s Lucy Carter took individual medalist honors while shooting a five-over-par 76.
After coming up agonizingly short in a series of tournaments in recent years, Muller, graduate assistant Emery Custer and company will savor Wednesday’s win. In route back to Seward, the team had plans to ring the Bulldog Stadium bell upon arrival.
Said Muller, “Anytime you can ring the bell, it’s a great day. It’s a great day to be a Bulldog.” Muller also noted, “The golf course played a little longer with the amount of rain they had up here. You don’t get the roll that you normally do.”
Bulldogs at Frommelt Fall Classic
Varsity: 320 (+36) | 1st place
T4. Savannah McFalls: 79
T9. Olivia James: 80
T9. Maddie Lewis: 80
T13. Amelia Ptacnik: 81
T45. Makenzie Hughes: 92
JV: 382 (+98) | 12th place
T27. Mia Ochsner: 85
64. Lucy Nothwehr: 98
65. Abigail Kollbaum: 99
T66. Brielle Cook: 100
69. Emma Anderson: 103
The Bulldogs will be in action within the state of Nebraska for the first time this fall when the York Invite unfolds this coming Monday-Tuesday (Sept. 21-22). Concordia placed second at the 2025 York Invite as Emery Custer and Savannah McFalls placed second and third, respectively, on the individual leaderboard.