DU Women Seek 11th Straight Conference Title

Ethan Kaufman

DENVER – Seeking its 11th straight conference title, the University of Denver women’s golf team is set to compete in the 2014 Summit League Conference Championship on Monday, April 21 through Wednesday April 23. The Pioneers  tee-time is set for 6:30 a.m. MT from  the par-72, 6,119 Sky Creek Ranch Golf Club in Keller, Texas. The format features an eight team, 54-hole stroke-play event with a regional championship berth on the line.

Beginning with the 2004 conference championship in the Sun Belt, the Pioneers look to win their 11th title in the 16-year history of the program.  No. 41/ 45 Denver led the Summit League in stroke average at 297.5 combined while North Dakota State with 314.0 combined strokes is second.  The Pioneers have three players in the top five in scoring average in the conference.

2013 WAC Coach of the Year Lindsay Kuhle, who looks for back-to-back titles as Head Coach of the Pioneers, shared her thoughts after the practice round on Sunday.

“The ladies looked solid today and ready to compete for a conference championship,” said Head coach Lindsay Kuhle. “The course is demanding both off the tee and for approach shots,” “We all feel confident with our ball striking and what we have worked hard on this spring, we just look forward to getting out and competing tomorrow.”

DU LINEUP

Having already secured the Western Athletic Conference title last season, No. 15/ 24 Senior Tonje Daffinrud (Larvik, Norway) leads the Pioneers into the Summit League conference championship with eyes on her second in as many years and has the lowest scoring average in the conference. Sophomore Elyse Smidinger (Crofton, Md.) is second in the conference in scoring average (75.0) and finished in a tie for sixth in last years’ conference championship with a seven-over par.

After competing in the ACC last season, Boston College transfer-sophomore Isabel Southard (Sharon, Mass) finished in 17th in the conference championship. Making their collegiate-golf playoff debuts freshmen Mariell Bruun (Larvik, Norway)  is fourth in the conference in scoring 76.2, while Jessica Carty (Holywood, Northern Ireland) is coming off a two-over par performance at the Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic.

PIONEER CONFERENCE TITLES:
Sun Belt Conference Champions: 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011
Western Athletic Conference Champions: 2012

LAST TIME OUT:
Denver women’s golf team won its 10th-straight conference title by winning its first Western Athletic Conference Championship by 12 strokes  during the 2012-13 season. Daffinrud won the individual title with a seven-under 209, six strokes ahead of San Jose State’s Regan De Guzman.  Denver combined for an 18-over 882 at the three-day event.

In all, three Pioneers finished in the top-10, as senior Kelly Drack (Melbourne, Fla.) and freshman Smidinger joined Daffinrud in that group. Drack shot a five-over 77 this afternoon and Smidinger shot a one-over 73 on Wednesday, as the Pioneer duo finished the competition tied for sixth with matching scores of seven-over (223).

TOURNAMENT QUICK FACTS:
What: The Summit League Conference Championship
Dates: Monday April 21, through Wednesday, April 23
Course: Sky Creek Ranch Golf Course
Location: Keller, Texas
Tournament Host: The Summit League Conference
Course Par: 72
Yardage: 6,119
Format: Three-days, 54-hole tournament with 18 holes played each day. Monday shotgun start slated for 6:30 a.m. MT
TEAMS COMPETING: 8 Teams-In order of seeding.
No. 1 Denver, No. 2 North Dakota State, No. 3 South Dakota State, No. 4 Western Illinois, No. 5 Omaha, No. 6 South Dakota, t-No. 7 IUPUI and Fort Wayne

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