While half of the Gustavus women’s golf team was in Minnesota wrapping up play at the Division 3 Classic, the other half of the squad was in Sound Bend, Ind. completing the first round of the O’Brien National Invitational. At the Division 3 Classic held Saturday and Sunday at the Jewel Golf Club in Lake City, Minn., Gustavus finished 12th out of 17 teams with a two-day team total 350-350-700 (+124). Following the first round of the O’Brien Invite, Gustavus sits in 10th place with a 340.
In Minnesota, it was Jordan Drenttel (So., Inver Grove Heights, Minn.) and Jessica Skaare (Jr., Blue Earth, Minn.) leading Gustavus’ second team. Both shot 175s (+31) to finish in a tie for 36th, as Drenttel went 87-88 and Skaare shot 82-93.
St. Thomas won the tournament with a 655 (+79), while Carleton (656) and UC-Santa Cruz (666) placed second and third, respectively.
Down by the river in South Bend, Holly Karkela (So., Perham, Minn.) and Kayleigh Dittes (Sr., Eden Prairie, Minn.) paced the Gusties with scores in the low-80s. Karkela sits in 15th with an 81 (+9), and Dittes is in 19th with an 82 (+10).
“We made way too many mistakes on a very challenging course today,” said Head Coach Scott Moe. “Holly and Kayleigh were fairly steady, but I’m confident that we can be much sharper tomorrow.”
Methodist University is in the lead after day one after firing a team score 318. Washington University (Mo.) is in second with a 321, and Centre College is in third with a 325.
The final day of the O’Brien Invitational, which is being held at the Warren Golf Course, will begin tomorrow morning with teams teeing off at 8:30 a.m.