By Chip Olsen
Playing for the third year, the UNO women’s golf team battled with the big guns Monday and Tuesday at this year’s 54-hole Husker Invitational.
The Mavs finished 12th in the 14-team field and finished ahead of two Division I schools — Missouri-Kansas City and Creighton.
A higher level of play and the fact that Div. I tournaments play 36 holes the first day of competition and 18 holes the next day shows that UNO can compete.
Head Coach Melissa Brooks said this tournament was a mentally and physically intense grind.
“There’s a big difference between Division I and Division II schools. We faced the cream of the crop players in the country and in the world.”
Brooks said her team was still upset about its performance. However, after finishing last place the previous two years in Lincoln, this year’s improvement was a step in the right direction. It also gives the team a good shot of confidence before heading into conference play.
As a team, the Mavs shot 318, 329 and 329 for a new 54-hole team record of 976 and were once again led by sophomore Tanis Hastmann, who shot a three-round total of 236.
Brooks said her team is capable of doing better but course management is the biggest hurdle. Hitting the right club, not leaving the ball short of the green and making putts are also areas where she wants to see improvement.
The team travels to the Lawrence, Kan., today for the Dodge County Invitation and then plays at the Wesleyan Invitational Sept. 27 and 28. This is in preparation for the North Central Conference tournament Oct. 4, 5 and 6.
Brooks said there’s no room for excuses at conference since the tournament will be played at Ironwood Country Club, the team’s home course.
Team results: Iowa State, 914. Missouri, 917. Kansas State, 919. Nebraska-Lincoln, 922. Arkansas-Little Rock, 925. Colorado State, 926. Denver, 926. Kansas, 938. Toledo, 949. Wichita State, 954. Northern Iowa, 972. UNO, 976. Missouri-Kansas City, 994. Creighton, 1025.
UNO results: 27, Tanis Hastmann, 236. 52, Stephanie Oster, 245. 55, Amanda Stock, 246. 61, Katie Etter, 249. 74, Mandy Houtz, 265.
