TJ Leverentz/Winonan
The Winona State University golf teams’ seasons are officially in full swing as the women competed in the Mustang Invite Sept. 21-22 and the men competed in the Husky Invitational Sept. 22-23.
The women finished ninth in the Mustang Invite, where freshman Courtney Hagen competed in her first event as a Warrior and posted a top-15 finish. She placed 14th with rounds of 80 and 81.
Warrior Katya Hoffman recorded 81 and 84 for 27th place and teammate Marissa Geyer posted 85 and 83 to claim 35th.
Winona State’s rounds of 345 and 336 placed them ninth in the tournament.
The Warriors “have a lot of potential,” said women’s head coach Julie Hennessy, about the 2013 season. With only four matches on the fall schedule, the Warriors will have little time to prove themselves against their competition.
The women’s season began in Sioux Falls with the Augustana Invitational Sept. 7-8. The Warriors fired 331 on day one and 343 on day two to finish ninth in the 11-team field.
A bright spot from the first match of the year was the emergence of freshman Geyer. Geyer, “has played very well, just had a bad nine holes,” Hennessy said. Geyer shot 77 on day one and 82 on day two, earning a 22nd place finish.
The Warriors next challenge took place at the Tartan Park Golf Club. The Warriors shot 358 on day one and improved to shoot 341 on day two. Not only did the Warriors improve by 17 shots, but all five golfers also beat their scores from day one.
“We stayed in the fairways and out of trouble,” Hennessey said. Geyer showed the most improvement. After posting a 90 on day one she came back to improve by 10 shots to finish at 170, which earned her 41st place.
The women only have one more match on their schedule. They will tee up Oct. 5-6 in Brainerd for the 2013 NSIC Championship.
The Warrior men’s golf team hit the ground running to begin the 2013 season with their first match at the Saint Mary’s Triangular, where they shot 310 and won the event.
Senior Alex Zeyen led the way for the Warriors shooting a two over par 74 to win medalist honors for the tournament. “Al is a solid player to have on the team,” said teammate Mike Wiebe.
The Warriors received their first conference action at the NSIC Preview in Brainerd Sept. 9-10. Tyler Schmude finished the tournament by shooting a two under par 70 to lead the Warriors to a second place finish.
“It has been an exciting start, I think we have a good shot at winning conference this season,” Wiebe said.
In order for the Warriors to achieve that goal, they will have to go through St. Cloud State. The Huskies won the NSIC preview with a two-day score of 593, beating the Warriors by 13 shots. “They have some good golfers, it will be fun going back and fourth with them this season,” Wiebe said.
September 22-23 the men traveled to St. Cloud for the 2013 Husky Invitational. After the first round of the tournament, the men were tied for eighth place. Final results for the tournament can be found on www.winonastatewarriors.com
The Warriors will then compete Monday, Sept. 30-Oct. 1 in Brainerd for the NSIC Championship.
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