Men struggle in first meet back, women await next shot

SQUAD PLAYS BELOW POTENTIAL
The Raider men’s golf team opened their spring season on Monday and Tuesday. They competed in a 36-hole competition, the Southeast Community College Invite.
The event took place in Beatrice, Neb., at the Beatrice Country Club. Northwestern placed fourth out of 10.
“[This meet] doesn’t represent how good our team really is,” said sophomore Kyle Stanek.
Sophomore Ryan Kiewiet finished fifth out of 61 golfers at the meet and led NW with a score of 156 (+12). Kiewiet’s score was seven strokes behind University of Nebraska-Kearney’s Kris Koetzer, who shot 149 for the win. UNK finished first in the event.
Behind Kiewiet, junior Michael Clark and freshman Jay Monahan both tied for 22nd place overall, shooting 164 apiece. Clark and Monahan were closely followed by sophomore Neil Malenke, who finished with 166 in 29th place.
Stanek was the final Raider competitor, finishing in 32nd with a score of 168.
The meet played out over two days. On the first day, golfers battled windy conditions that hampered their play considerably. Regardless, Kiewiet shot his best score on the first day, posting a 77. He shot a 79 the next day.
“The first day it was extremely windy,” Stanek said, “and the course that we played was easily the toughest golf course that we have had all year. So it made it really tough for us to post a good score.”
NW’s next competition will be the Siouxland Ryder Cup, a two team competition that pits the Raiders against rival Dordt College for a two-day competition.
Looking ahead to the spring schedule, the Raiders are setting their sights deep into the post-season.
“We are only two strokes behind Doane [in the qualifier],” Stanek said. We have a really good chance at winning the conference this year and making it to nationals.”

WOMEN PREP FOR SECOND HALF
The women’s side is looking forward for their chance to return to competition on April 6 to kick-off the spring season at the Lady Raider Spring Invite, which is hosted at Landsmeer Golf Course in Orange City.
The unusual weather has been beneficial in giving the women extra time on their home course before the spring opener.
NW finished off their fall season with the second GPAC Qualifier, where they sit in third place overall. Sophomore Taylor Kline and freshman Emma Wynja are carrying the squad, sitting in the individual places of third and sixth, respectively.
In all, the team has seven spring meets where they will look to compete for the conference title, as well as berth to the national tournament.
Shortly after the Lady Raider Invite, the women will travel to Lincoln, Neb., for the pivotal third qualifying round on April 10.