Nicole Robinson

As winter draws closer, the fall season for the men’s and women’s golf teams is drawing to an end as both teams traveled to tournaments over the weekend in final preparation for the fall finale.

The women traveled to Fond Du Lac Saturday to take part in the UW-Oshkosh Invitational in search of their second straight team victory, and that’s exactly what they found.

On day one, the women picked up right where they left off the preceding weekend at the UW-Whitewater Invitational – at the top of the leader board.

At the close of day one, the women headed to the clubhouse sitting comfortably in first place, with an eight-stroke lead over second-place St. Mary’s (Ind.).

“All season long everyone on the team has put forth the time and effort,” junior Maggie Loney said

“We all have the desire to want to be there and want to win, so we expect ourselves to play well week in and week out.” she said.

Loney led the ‘Golds with a three-over 75 leaving her in first place individually. But last week’s WIAC golfer of the week, sophomore Jesse Thompson, kept pace and continued her solid play, finishing only four strokes behind Loney, landing her in third place for the day.

Day two proved to offer up more difficult conditions but the ‘Golds were up to the challenge, shooting a second day 351, maintaining their eight stroke lead over St. Mary’s and taking home their second consecutive first-place finish.

Loney grabbed her third first-place individual finish of the fall season to lead the ‘Golds. Freshman Meghan Sobotta and Thompson also cracked the top ten, taking home sixth and seventh respectively.

Going into this weekend’s WIAC Conference Championships at Stevens Point there are high expectations for good reason.

“We have an excellent chance of winning,” Thompson said. “It’s my home course so I know it inside and out, so there’s no reason we shouldn’t place well.”

In preparation for their upcoming tournament in South Carolina this weekend, the men traveled to the three-day, 21-team Gustavus Twin Cities Classic Saturday to right any wrongs before their final tournament of the season. The ‘Golds opened up the tournament with a first day 299, only five strokes off the leader, leaving them in good position at fourth place.

But days two and three proved to be nothing to write home about for the men’s team.

“We came out and played solid the first day,” coach Eric Anderson said. “But instead of gaining ground in day two and three like we had hoped, we ended out just holding it.”

Sophomore Mike Greer was the Blugolds low man of the tournament finishing with an eight-over 224, giving him a fifth place finish individually.

Junior Derek Pirkl continued his strong fall season firing a twelve-over 228, and taking home 14th place.

The ‘Golds will travel to Myrtle Beach, S.C. Saturday, to compete against the top 12 Div. III teams in the nation at the three-day Gordin Collegiate Classic.

“Were ready for a big week,” Anderson said. “If we play to our potential and put together a couple of good rounds this weekend, we’ll be sitting in good position for nationals.”