HASTINGS, Neb. – The Concordia University women’s golf team closed out its fall schedule by shooting a 348 at GPAC Qualifier No. 2. Monday’s round took place at Southern Hills Golf Course in Hastings, Neb., where each of the league’s 12 teams converged for the second of four qualifiers that take place throughout the 2015-16 year. After two rounds of conference action, head coach Brett Muller’s Bulldogs sit in fifth place with a cumulative total of 354-348–702.
After carding an 84 five days earlier at the first conference qualifier, junior Amy Ahlers turned in a 10-over-par 82, tying for sixth among 59 golfers in Monday’s field. A two-time all-GPAC performer, the Albion, Neb., native placed as GPAC runner-up last season as a sophomore.
“Overall fifth place is a disappointing spot to be in,” Muller said. “We really thought we could compete for the top two. We still can, but we have a lot of work to do. As for today’s round, we got off to a rough start on the front nine. Looking at our scores, I’m not sure anyone shot better than their season average.”
Two other Bulldogs joined Ahlers with rounds in the 80s on Monday: sophomore Emma Jacoby (86) and junior Kayla Krueger (87). The rest of the lineup included sophomore Ashlen Pospisil (93) and freshman Mallarie Fila (105).
Concordia’s GPAC average of 352.0 is four strokes better than its 2014-15 conference mean round of 356.0. Last year the Bulldogs placed fifth in the GPAC with a four-round score of 343-367-353-361–1,424.
The team’s average for 2015 sits at 344.57 after seven rounds. Ahlers leads the Bulldogs with an average of 78.71. She has two tournament victories on the season.
Ahlers and company will resume the 2015-16 season this coming spring. For the first time ever, Concordia will host a conference meet when GPAC Qualifier No. 3 gets underway at Highlands Golf Course in Lincoln, Neb.
Muller is hoping for more consistency this spring. The fall season yielded some great moments, such as Ahlers’ school record one-under-par 71 round on day one of the Lila Frommelt Fall Classic. As a team, the Bulldogs broke the program single-round record by shooting a 335 at the College of Saint Mary Invitational on Sept. 9.
“We had some decent highlights this fall, but we need more consistency one through five,” Muller said. “We have people capable of doing it, we just have to show up for every tournament.”
2015 fall GPAC totals
Amy Ahlers: 84-82–166 (6th)
Kayla Krueger: 83-87–170 (T-9th)
Emma Jacoby: 93-86–179 (T-19th)
Ashlen Pospisil: 97-93–190 (37th)
Mallarie Fila: 94-105–199 (T-47th)