ST. PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus women’s golf team is set to compete in the MIAC Championships this weekend, hosted at Pebble Creek Golf Club in Becker, Minn. Saturday through Monday. The 54-hole tournament features all 11 MIAC teams with the winner earning the league’s automatic qualifier into the NCAA Championships, which takes place May 8-11, 2018 at Howey-in-Hills, Fla.
After eight rounds this fall season, Gustavus averages 326.6 strokes per round, which ranks fourth in the MIAC. Carleton has the lowest average at 312.2. McKenzie Swenson (Sr., Buffalo, Minn.) has been the top golfer for the Gusties with an 80.9 average, ranking 13th in the league. Swenson has two top-10 finishes this season, including medalist honors at the UW-Eau Claire Invite. Jessica Nelson (Sr., Plymouth, Minn.) has been at the No. 2 spot with an 81.8 average and one top-five finish. Morgan Bleyhl (So., Elk River, Minn.) has a pair of top-10 finishes, including a share of medalist honors with Swenson at UW-Eau Claire. Bleyhl averages 82.9 strokes per round. Kristen Cash (So., Roseville, Minn.) and Ellie Brandt (Jr., Wayzata, Minn.) round out the lineup with averages of 83.4 and 84.1, respectively.
Last season at the MIAC Championships, Gustavus placed third with a score of 328-319-318-965, which was 16 strokes off the champion St. Catherine. Nelson earned All-Championship Team honors by tying for 10th place with a score of 240.
Gustavus owns three MIAC Championships, coming in successive years in 2008-10. The Gusties have also made nine NCAA tournament appearances with the last coming in 2012 and have finished in second place three times, but have not won a national title.