Lakers Return to the Links
The Iowa Lakes women's golf team returned to the links after a winter hibernation to begin their spring campaign at the Graceland Spring Invite in Maryville, MO at Lake Mozingo Golf Course. After day one, the Lakers find themselves with a fifteen-shot lead over Waldorf University and the rest of the field after posting a round one score of 384.
"The first tournament round of the year is always going to carry a huge asterisk" said Iowa Lakes golf coach Jarvis Weber. "It is very difficult to be in mid-season form on day one, and this is especially true when your first round is as difficult a layout like we saw today. We stressed patience and what to anticipate today with it being our first round of the year. I was extremely proud of the way the team held things together enough to bring in a day one lead at a tough course in tough conditions."
Mozing Lake Golf Course received rain over the week preventing the course from opening the driving range and making the course play extremely long and rough.
"It is difficult to create your own momentum out of nothing. Imagine yourself going for a jog for the first time all year without stretching and expecting no pain or exhaustion. That is golf without a good warm up, specifically in early spring." added Coach Weber. "Today's day was about beginning that momentum by staying patient and finding as much positive moments as possible.
Leading the way for the Lakers was sophomore Kelly Winter with a 92, placing her in fourth place individually. Freshman Abby Gaudian was not far behind with a 94. Isabella Santistevan carded a 98, Somer Hudson a 100, and Gretchen Hofstad posted a 104 to round out the team scores. Alexis Halbach posted a 136 as an individual.
Coach Weber had this to say about his player's rounds today: "Everybody showed some really good stretches today and we tried to focus on those as much as possible after the round. Golf is extremely difficult in the beginning of the season with balancing expectations and staying patient. Everybody knows how much work they have put in and how talented they are and what they are capable of. It's only a matter of time before they get a taste of their potential. We will focus on the positives and look to improve round to round and come home with a win tomorrow."
Iowa Lakes will look to bring home its first win of the spring tomorrow with round two starting at 9:00AM.
Photo ID: Abby Gaudian