Head Coach: Brett Muller (10th year)
2019-20 GPAC Finish: 3rd (336-345–681)
Key Returners: Lauren Havlat (Fr.); Andrea Peterson (Jr.); Kendra Placke (So.).
Key Newcomers: Emily Jensen; Mia Martin.
Key Losses: Britney Jepsen; Murphy Sears.
2019-20 GPAC All-Conference: Kendra Placke (6th); Murphy Sears (14th).
Season Preview:
Perhaps no team’s season was flipped upside down in 2020 more than women’s golf. Due to COVID-19, the Concordia Women’s Golf team saw no action during the spring 2020 season.
“Obviously, it was very disappointing last year,” Head Coach Brett Muller said. “Our men’s team has just returned from a spring break trip down in Arizona, we got back on a Thursday, and basically on Friday the whole NAIA had shutdown. We did not have much closure as far as meeting with the team face to face, we did the best we could over zoom. We had team meetings via zoom throughout the rest of the second semester. It was pretty unfortunate.”
It has been almost a full year since the Concordia women have competed at their last official meet back on September 30, 2019. It is an understatement to say they are eager to return to the links.
The Bulldogs finished their shortened season third in the GPAC standings. The best finish for a Concordia squad in recent memory. Despite losing Murphy Sears to graduation, the Bulldogs are looking to replicate that finish for 2020-2021.
“We were sitting in third after fall, and I think we can be there again this year,” sophomore (junior academically) Kendra Placke said. “The younger girls have been practicing a lot this summer and you can tell it is showing. I am excited to see what the team can do this year.”
Concordia will be led by Placke, who recorded four top-ten finishes in five tournaments last fall. Placke currently holds a career scoring average of 81.65. The Seward native won the Nebraskan Wesleyan Fall Classic last fall by carding an 8-over par 79. The performance helped Concordia take home the team title as well. Other vital returners expected to provide a spark include freshman Lauren Havlat and junior Andrea Peterson. Key newcomers for the Bulldogs include junior transfer Mia Martin and freshman Emily Jensen.
Martin is a byproduct of the Concordia System as she spent her previous two years at Concordia University-Portland, which closed permanently this past spring. Looking for a new home, the Brisbane, Australia native, was referred to Concordia by a friend.
“She has a friend that is competing on our track and field team that was her connection to Concordia University,” said Muller. We are very fortunate to have her here. She will fit in great with the girls. She is a very solid player and we're looking forward to her helping us continue to rise.”
Coach Brett Muller believes his Bulldogs can build off last fall’s performance and replicate their success in 2020.
“Last year, we had some freshmen that improved in the spring,” Muller said. “Coach Berner does a fantastic job in the weight room. We had some girls who had not really been in a weight room before add some yardage. Lauren Havlat had a great offseason. She played a lot of golf this summer and I am really looking forward to her taking that next step.”
The Concordia women will begin their fall slate on Thursday, Sept. 10, as they travel to the Yankton, S.D., to compete at the Mount Mary University Invitational.