The Northwestern women’s golf team played in the first half of the 2019-20 GPAC championship this fall at the Bluffs in Vermillion, South Dakota. Instead of playing two days of 18 holes each on Monday and Tuesday, the golfers played all 36 holes on Monday due to the forecast of poor conditions on Tuesday. Adjustments for transportation were made in order to make sure the golfers finished before dark. The athletes were able to be carted from hole to hole.
“It is always a lot to play 36 in one day, but when the girls get carts it really helps a lot,” Coach Courtney Hummel said. “Playing in the rain and cold all day on Tuesday would have been terrible.”
Although the weather was better on Monday, the conditions still weren’t ideal as coach Hummel said, “We had to battle the wind all day long which was tough.”
After playing 36 holes this fall, the Raiders are in sixth place. They shot two of their best rounds this season (350/354) with a total of 704. The Raiders are 15 strokes behind Jamestown, who is in fifth place. Currently, senior Chanda Zomermaand is T16th with a 36-hole total of 170 (84/86). Kate Wynja is in 24th place after shooting a season-best (83), and finishing with a 93 for a 36-hole total of 176. Morgan Roberts is just behind Wynja with a total score of 177, putting her in 25th place. Roberts shot a 91, followed by a career-best (86). Hayley Carlson is T36th with a total of 181, opening with a 91 and finishing with a season-best 89. Samantha Olson shot a 190 (94/96) and is currently in 47th place.
Morningside is currently leading the GPAC championship with a score of 622 after 36 holes. The individual leader is Maria Nava. She carded a 36-hole total of 152 (73/79). Three other Morningside players are also in the top five, including Laia Badosa, Samantha Knight and Maria Zorilla. Tori Suto from College of St. Mary’s is also in the top five. In the past two years, Morningside golfers have been the individual GPAC champions. In 2019, Laia Badosa won the GPAC championship; in 2018, Samantha Knight won the GPAC championship.
The final two rounds of the GPAC championship will be held at Bent Tree Golf Club in Council Bluffs, NE in the spring. The top two teams and the top individual will earn their way to nationals.
