Flames show improvement in final round of CUNE Invite
LINCOLN, Neb. -- Four of five College of Saint Mary golfers produced their best scores of the tournament in Wednesday's third round as the CSM golf team wrapped up play at the Concordia University Spring Invitational.
The tournament, held at Highlands Golf Course, featured a GPAC-heavy field and was contested among challenging weather conditions, including considerable wind.
Iowa Western Community College stormed back from eight strokes behind to win the team title. The Reivers shot 326 as a team today to finish at 998 for the tournament. Morningside shot 336 on the day as they slowly saw their lead over the Reivers evaporate as they finished with a score of 1000. The University of Nebraska Kearney junior varsity (1053), Briar Cliff University (1060), and Doane University (1060) rounded out the top five teams.
College of Saint Mary shot 365 today, their best round of the tournament, and finished in 13th place.
Coach Keri Rodriguez was complimentary of her team's performance, saying, "we had a much better day today, improving by 19 strokes from yesterday's round."
Sofia Castelan (Morningside) and Baylie Pyke (Iowa Western) tied atop the individual leaderboard forcing playoff hole. The pair shot 234 apiece, good for 18-under. Castelan birdied the 17th hole to win the playoff and secure individual medalist honors.
Pyke carded a third round 77 to force the playoff as Castelan shot 78 to allow Pyke to rally from a one-stroke deficit. Helene Getz Bergmo (Briar Cliff) finished two strokes back in third place at 20-over.
Gabby Sinnett paced the Flames with her 16-over 88 and Ritzy Dominguez turned in a 17-over 89. Dominguez (272, +56) finished tied for 34th and Sinnett (276, +60) tied for 41st, respectively.
Emily Faubel carded a 24-over 96 for a three-round total of 286, finishing a stroke ahead of teammate Erika Headlee (288) who shot 92 (+20) on the day.
Julissa Garcia knocked seven strokes off her best round yesterday to shoot 98 (+26) and finish in 76th place with a 54-hole total of 312.
Going forward coach Rodriguez sees reason for optimism. "We need to trust our shots, work on our short games and keep positive on the course. We can only go up from here," she said.
CSM returns to the links when they compete in the Peru State Spring Invite on Friday-Saturday, Apr. 5-6 at Table Creek Golf Club in Nebraska City, Neb.