SIOUX CITY, Iowa – In back-to-back tournaments to begin the 2025-26 season, Concordia University, Nebraska Women’s Golf has set new program standards. While making a strong push for a tournament championship at the Lila Frommelt Fall Classic (Sept. 8-9) hosted by Briar Cliff, the Bulldogs shot 336-322–658 while finishing just four strokes out of first place. Seniors Emery Custer and Maddie Lewis and sophomore Savannah McFalls each placed in the top six of the individual leaderboard.
Already this season, Head Coach Brett Muller’s squad has twice broken the previous school record for best two-round tournament score and also produced a new standard for a single round (320 at the Mount Marty Invite).
“It was a great showing again,” Muller said. “Yesterday we had two individuals shoot their career bests and Maddie backed it up again today and got into the 70s for the first time in her career. I’m very proud of her and her performance. Then Emery had another strong round. I know she was disappointed with her play yesterday, but she made some birdies and played great today. To walk away from an invite with three girls in the top six is huge.”
To begin her senior year, Custer has performed at a level that rivals the play of the program’s all-time greats. With her one-over-par 73 (one stroke off career best) at Green Valley Golf Course in Sioux City, Iowa, on Tuesday, Custer rose from ninth place after day one to second place on the final leaderboard. Custer shot 85-73–158 for the tournament. The Broken Bow, Neb., native has placed within the top three in both events this season. Custer’s round at Green Valley featured three birdies (5, 11 and 18).
Custer was followed closely by teammates in Lewis (80-79–159) and McFalls (80-84–164), who placed third and sixth, respectively. Lewis reset her personal best on back-to-back days at the Frommelt Invite while McFalls posted a career low round of 80 on Monday at Two Rivers Golf Club in North Sioux City, S.D. The results marked the first time the Bulldogs have placed three individuals in the top 10 of a tournament since the College of Saint Mary Classic in April 2023.
Two freshmen held down the Nos. 4 and 5 spots in the lineup for Concordia’s ‘A’ team: Olivia James (91-86–177; T-28th) and Amelia Ptacnik (95-90–185; 42nd). In addition, the Bulldogs entered a ‘B’ team into the tournament, which was paced by sophomore Audra Poffinbarger (89-90–179; T-30th). The ‘B’ squad shot 378-386–764 as a team.
As the tournament runner up, Concordia defeated all GPAC opposition at the Frommelt Invite: Northwestern (third), Briar Cliff (fifth), Dordt (sixth), Doane (JV – seventh) and Mount Marty (ninth). Iowa Western and Kansas Wesleyan University were the only two non-GPAC teams in the event. There were 59 individual golfers in the field.
Bulldogs at the Lila Frommelt Invite
A Team: 336-322–658 (+86)
2. Emery Custer: 85-73–158
3. Maddie Lewis: 80-79–159
T6. Savannah McFalls: 80-84–164
T28. Olivia James: 91-86–177
42. Amelia Ptacnik: 95-90–185
B Team: 378-386–764 (+192)
T30. Audra Poffinbarger: 89-90–179
47. Kaylee Carlson: 99-93–192
T49. Mackenzie Hughes: 93-104–197
T52. Emma McCoy: 97-103–200
54. Abigail Kollbaum: 102-100–202
The 2025-26 season will resume next week at the Siouxland Invite (Sept. 16-17) co-hosted by Dordt and Northwestern. Three varsity events remain on the schedule for the fall portion of the season.