LINCOLN, Neb. – Even for springtime in Nebraska, the winds were fierce. Nine Bulldogs played through 30-mile-per-hour gusts on a warmer day from Highlands Golf Course in Lincoln, Neb., site of the 2026 Concordia Bulldog Spring Invite (April 7-8). Concordia University, Nebraska Women’s Golf ultimately finished in fourth place while led by top 10 individual medalists in senior Emery Custer and freshman Olivia James. Custer shot the lowest score of all players in the tournament’s third and final round.
Head Coach Brett Muller’s squad shot 338-335-339–1,012 For the tournament and defeated six conference rivals. The Concordia Invite field included 66 competitors from 10 institutions (11 groupings).
“Starting with yesterday, it was very chilly when we started,” Muller said. “Thirty-six holes is a marathon, and very few of our players had experienced that. I’m very proud of the way we competed yesterday. I thought Olivia James had a fantastic tournament. She really improved from her first to second round at Sand Creek Station (at the Bethel Invite on March 28-29) and used that momentum in this tournament. That was a great finish for her and great to see her get a medal. Emery Custer didn’t have her best in round one, but she really played well in rounds two and three.”
Given the extreme wind, the four-over-par 76 turned in by Custer on Wednesday stood out as especially impressive. The Broken Bow, Neb., native birdied holes 1 and 3 and soared from 10th (after day one) to fourth place on the final individual leaderboard. Custer shot 85-79-76–240 overall at the Concordia Invite and claimed her fifth top five tournament finish of her senior campaign. Not far behind, James enjoyed a breakthrough with her 78 in round two, representing an 18-hole personal best in her young collegiate career. James carded a three-round score of 86-78-82–246. The Kearney, Neb., native birdied twice in round two.
Stated Custer after receiving her medal, “I think it was all mindset (in regard to dealing with the wind). It was a battle. It makes me realize that I can do a lot more than I thought I was capable of. That 85 (in round one) was a fluke, I think. I just wanted to go out and do better in the next round … Our team is doing amazing. Our freshmen are killing it this year.”
The remainder of the five-player varsity lineup included senior Maddie Lewis (83-84-86–253; 15th), sophomore Makenzie Hughes (87-94-95–276) and freshman Amelia Ptacnik (84-96-96–276). Lewis had been coming off a fourth-place finish at the Bethel Invite. The Treynor, Iowa, native Lewis has placed in the top 15 in five events this season. Among the four Bulldogs who competed as individuals, Emma McCoy was the top finisher at 56th overall.
With Custer and James leading the charge, Concordia leapfrogged College of Saint Mary on the tournament’s final day. The top three team finishers were Morningside (968), Doane (984) and Iowa Western Community College (992). The Bulldogs placed in front of GPAC rivals CSM (1,015), Hastings (1,025), Briar Cliff (1,032), Northwestern (1,052), Mount Marty (1,094) and Midland (1,110).
Bulldogs at the Concordia Invite – Final Results
Team: 338-335-339–1,012 (+148) | 4th place
T4. Emery Custer: 85-79-76–240
T8. Oliva James: 86-78-82–246
15. Maddie Lewis: 83-84-86–253
T44. Makenzie Hughes: 87-94-95–276
T44. Amelia Ptacnik: 84-96-96–276
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56. Emma McCoy: 96-91-107–294
58. Abigail Kollbaum: 97-96-106–299
60. Kaylee Carlson: 105-95-106–306
T61. Brielle Cook: 101-104-108–313
Up next, the Bulldog varsity will compete at the Wildcat Classic hosted by Wayne State on April 13-14 (at Wayne Country Club). Concordia will also send a second group to the Kaitlyn Erickson Invite hosted by Doane on April 13-14. Those events will mark the final action prior to the GPAC Championships on April 27-28.