Flames battle wind, 12 opponents at CUNE Spring Invite
LINCOLN, Neb. -- Amidst cold and blustery conditions in the Capital City, the College of Saint Mary golf team teed off the spring portion of their schedule with two rounds at the Concordia University Spring Invitational.
Ritzy Dominguez is the top Flames' golfer after two rounds of play. She is tied for 34th place in the 81-golfer field while the Flames are 13th in the 13-team field.
"I could come up with excuses that the playing conditions were awful, and they were, but they were awful for everyone. This was simply one of those days where everyone of my players had a bad day on the course," stated CSM coach Keri Rodriguez.
The tournament is being held at Highlands Golf Course, Concordia's home course.
Morningside University (664), one of 10 GPAC schools competing, topped the team leaderboard after 36 holes, eight strokes ahead of Iowa Western Community College (672). Briar Cliff University (710), Doane University (714), and University of Nebraska-Kearney's junior varsity side (718) rounded out the top five.
Despite the conditions, Rodriguez noted her team's resolve, saying, "the good news is, for the most part, my team didn't fall to pieces mentally. I have a young squad and three of the five have never played 36 holes in one day. It was a lot and they did the best they could."
Sofia Castelan (Morningside) sits atop the leaderboard at 12-over, one stroke ahead of IWCC's Baylie Pyke (+13). Briar Cliff's Helene Getz Bergmo is third at 15-over.
Dominguez began the day with a first round 19-over 91 and followed up with a 20-over 92 as the weather played havoc on all competitors.
Gabby Sinnett is tied for 47th after shooting 96 (+24) in the first round and shaving four strokes for a 92 (+20) in the second. Emily Faubel is tied for 53rd having begun the day with a 20-over 92 and wrapped up with a 26-over 98 in the second round.
Erika Headlee is tied for 64th on the leaderboard. She shot a 22-over 94 in the first round and a 30-over 102 in the second.
Julissa Garcia recorded rounds of 109 (+37) and 105 (+33) on the day as she rounds out the CSM field in 78th place overall.
Rodriguez went on to add that she is "hoping for better scores tomorrow. They know what to expect and I know they will give it their best effort."
The CUNE Spring Invitational wraps up with tomorrow's third, and final, round tee times set for 9 a.m.