It might not be ideal conditions for golf season, but that hasn’t stopped the MSUM women’s golf team from playing the spring half of its season.
The season is divided into two halves, the fall and spring, with conference play in both halves.
With snow still covering the courses in the Fargo-Moorhead area, the team has been forced to practice indoors at the Sports Bubble in Fargo, which has proven to be challenging because it is hard to tell how far the ball goes.
Another challenge due to practicing in the Sports Bubble is that it is hard for the team to chip and putt. Not being able to practice each aspect of the game can prove challenging when it comes time for tournament and conference play.
With only two seniors, this year’s team is young and is looking to improve each time they take the course.
The team has three freshmen, two sophomores and two juniors along with the two seniors.
The team is looking to build off of the fall season where they finished second at the Bemidji State Open.
With a strong fall, the team will look to carry the momentum in the rest of the spring season.
Having two halves to the season gives the team opportunities to improve throughout the winter and try and finish the season strong.
The team took part in the first two rounds of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference championship in September and are currently in 11th place, the tournament was in Brainerd, Minn.
Junior Kamie Roesler is currently 13th in the conference after leading the Dragons in the first two rounds.
“Our team goal is to improve at the (conference) tournament … hopefully bump up a couple spots,” Roesler said.
With a short season, the Dragons have to take advantage of each opportunity.
The weather hasn’t been helping the team out either, causing tournaments to be canceled and moved to different locations because the courses aren’t in playing condition.
The team was scheduled to play in Sioux Falls, S.D., this past Sunday and Monday in the Augustana Spring Invitational but was canceled due to the weather. The tournament will not be rescheduled for later in the season.
Due to the weather, the team has only had one competitive tournament in Wayne, Neb., where they finished third.
With not much time remaining in the season, the team is working towards finishing with their best effort in the spring part of the conference tournament.
“In the spring you really have to buckle down and practice,” Roesler said.
Roesler credits head coach Chelsey McGinnis and seniors Amanda Northwick and Jennifer Kurtz for leading the team.
“We really have fun as a team,” Roesler said.
The spring conference tournament was originally scheduled to be played in Morton, Minn., but it has now been changed to Kansas City, Mo., and will be played at the Paradise Point course.
The spring conference tournament will be April 20-21 when the team plays in the final two rounds of the NSIC conference tournament.
With mother nature forcing the team to practice indoors and a small amount of tournament play, the team will look to finish the season strong and take advantage of each opportunity they have to play outdoors.
BY BREANN LENZMEIER
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