UNO Golf Team Readies For 2009-2010 Season
Sep 1, 2009 | Women's Golf
OMAHA, Neb. - UNO golf coach #Tim Nelson# knows he's going to see some stiff competition when the 2009-2010 season begins. Some of it will come from within his own team. One year after having just five golfers, Nelson has added four newcomers who will challenge for a spot in the starting line-up when the Mavericks begin with the Iowa Western Community College Fall Invite on Friday, Sept. 4 at noon in Council Bluffs.
“Our new players have blended well with our returning golfers,” said Nelson. “I think there is going to be some healthy competition for one of those top six starting spots, and it could be a different player each week.”
All five players return from last year's team led by top scorer #Erin Ommen#. The senior had an average score of 78.5 last season and was the individual medalist in five tournaments including the MIAA Championship, a tournament the Mavs won by 27 strokes. She set a new school record with a round of 68 at the Bearcat Invitational last October. The Omaha native represented UNO as an individual in the NCAA Division II National Championship.
Junior #Dani Suponchick# attended the Nationals with Ommen and got what Nelson called an “eye opener”. Nelson says Suponchick has made major strides over the summer and that's good news for the Mavs. The native of Papillion, Neb. was UNO's second leading scorer last year with an average of 81.1. She had her best tournament at the Tarleton State Golf Invitational in April when she fired a two-day score of 153, including a season-low round of 75 on day two.
Senior #Abbey Weddle# was right behind Suponchick with an average score of 81.4 and was the individual medalist at the Wayne State Spring Invite in March. Sophomore #Rebecca Pollock and junior Amy Powell# round out the corps of returning players. Nelson says Pollock has made major improvements in her game over the summer.
Among the newcomers, Omaha native #Armana Christianson# could have an immediate impact. She transferred cross-town from Creighton where she led the Bluejays last season with an 82 stroke average.
“She's a strong player and a very hard worker, but she's still developing” said Nelson. “We've tinkered with her swing, and she's been very receptive. I think she's going to be a strong contributor.”
Junior college transfer Soper# brings an impressive resume from Iowa Lakes Community College. Nelson says she's making the adjustment to Division II golf and should push to play in UNO's top five.
Freshman #Elizabeth Havekost# is making a similar adjustment after finishing her high school career at Beatrice High School where she was the Class B state champion. #Melyssa Doerr# will redshirt the 2009-2010 season after an off-season injury.
Nelson says the fall half of the season will be toughest for his team with strong competition at tournaments at Drury University, Concordia and Southwest Minnesota. The spring may be no easier as the Mavericks shoot to defend their Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association title, the first awarded for women's golf in MIAA history. League competition is bound to improve as Fort Hays State moves back into the MIAA for golf after competing in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. They'll join Truman State, Northwest Missouri State and Missouri Western in trying to knock off the Mavericks.
In the end, the goal for UNO is the same – to play in the NCAA Division II Championship. Last season, the Mavs missed a trip to the season's final tournament by one stroke at the West Regional which they hosted at Ironwood Golf and Country Club. With a seasoned roster of returning players and a group of promising newcomers, UNO could find itself on a plane to Mesa, Ariz. come May.
