DAKOTA DUNES, S.D. – Despite an improvement on the second day at the GPAC Women’s Golf Championship, the Concordia University Women’s Golf team held steady at fourth place in the conference standings. That’s where the Bulldogs will remain until the final two rounds of GPAC golf are contested in the spring of 2021. Head Coach Brett Muller’s squad carded a 36-hole score of 368-359–727 while in action at Dakota Dunes Country Club in Dakota Dunes, S.D., Monday and Tuesday (Oct. 5-6).
Concordia placed third in the GPAC last season. Currently, Muller’s group is looking up in the standings at Morningside (316-313–629), Jamestown (363-352–715) and Dakota Wesleyan (361-359–720).
“As a team, our goal is to finish second in the GPAC,” Muller said. “Obviously we are not there, but only 12 shots back (of second) isn’t a terrible place to be. Dakota Dunes is a national championship caliber golf course. We were plagued with big numbers. We need to sharpen our short game on and around the greens. The greens were firm and fast the last two days. We struggled with our speed control and lag putting.”
Two-time All-GPAC performer Kendra Placke (two tournament titles this fall) returned to form on Tuesday by shooting a nine-over-par 82 on the challenging course in Dakota Dunes. Placke moved up on the individual leaderboard from 11th place after day one to 10th place (90-82–172) after day two. Placke carded 11 pars on Tuesday while shooting the sixth lowest overall individual score of the day.
Said Muller of Placke, “Kendra struggled her first eight holes of the championship. She played her final 28 more like what we expect from her. If she puts two solid rounds together in the spring she can definitely move up the leaderboard.”
Andrea Peterson also took a solid step forward on Tuesday and is currently in 12th place (93-86–179). All Bulldogs other than Placke are shooting for their first career all-conference placements (top 15 are automatic). The final three spots in the conference lineup were held down by Logan Eschliman (93-96–189; T-23rd), Emily Jensen (92-97–189; T-23rd) and Lauren Havlat (110-95–205; 50th). Havlat, Peterson and Placke each had prior conference tournament experience while Eschliman and Jensen made their debuts on this particular stage.
The 2019-20 GPAC Women’s Golf Championship included only two rounds of play with the spring rounds being wiped out due to the coronavirus pandemic. Placke (sixth place) and Murphy Sears (14th) were named to the all-conference team in representation of the Bulldogs.
The spring 2021 schedule has not yet been announced. Rounds three and four of the GPAC Championships will take place at Bent Tree Golf Club in Council Bluffs, Iowa, on dates that are to be determined.