Flames find their groove, move up to 3rd place
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – Firing on all cylinders, College of Saint Mary turned in the second-best team score of the day on Tuesday, allowing the Flames to pass Hastings College and finish third in the final standings in the Iowa Western Spring Invite at Bent Tree Golf Club.
"We played better today by making smarter decisions and playing with confidence,'' CSM Coach Keri Rodriguez said. "That's the kind of golf we're capable of.''
The Flames turned in a team score of 327 on Tuesday, second only to team champion Iowa Western Community College, which shot 314. The Reivers won the meet with a team score of 641, followed by Doane University (667), CSM (680), Hastings (689), Mount Marty University (707), Nebraska Wesleyan University (762) and Southeast Community College (793).
Individually, senior Emily Faubel fired a round of 80, tied for the third-best round of the day, to vault up the final leaderboard. She moved up four spots into a tie for sixth with an 86-80—166. Victoria Farkas placed ninth with an 83-84—167.
Katie Freeman also turned in an outstanding day, improving by 12 strokes with an 81, tied for the fourth-best round of the day. She finished tied for 14th at 93-81—174. Frede Weiss also improved by 12 strokes with an 82 to tie for 16th at 94-82—176. And Sofia Chavez ended in a tie for 19th after a 91-87—178.
"Next week at the GPAC National Qualifier, it's not about chasing unrealistically low scores – it's about consistency,'' Rodriguez said. "If we go out and shoot our averages like we did today, across all three rounds on Monday and Tuesday, we'll put ourselves in a great position.
"We know what it takes. Now it's about trusting it, staying disciplined and executing when it matters.''
The GPAC National Qualifier is set for Monday and Tuesday at Dakota Dunes Country Club in Dakota Dunes, S.D.