Women's Golf | 04.20.2019

The South Dakota women's golf team opens play at the Summit League Championship Sunday. The three-round event runs Sunday through Tuesday at Sand Creek Station Golf Club in Newton, Kansas.
 
The Coyotes
South Dakota is coming off a fourth place finish at the Kansas City Intercollegiate in its most recent outing led by senior Lexi Petersen in a tie for fourth place. The Coyotes have an event victory on the season, the Loyola Fall Invitational, and a pair of runner-up performances. At the Golfweek Program Challenge (Sept. 9-11), the Coyotes set a program record with 293 strokes in the third round.

With @TheSummitLeague Championship right around the corner, take a look at the women's golf team preparing for the event! #GoYotes #WeAreSouthDakota pic.twitter.com/2sr38ljbg6

— Coyote Golf (@SDCoyotesGolf) April 18, 2019

 
Lineup

1. Lexi Petersen, 76.9 avg.
2. Laerke Jensen, 77.1 avg.
3. Katie Bartlett, 77.6 avg.
4. Megan Munneke, 78.8 avg.
5. Emma Sabbagh, 80 avg.

 
The Field
Denver enters with the top stroke average in the league, averaging 298.2 shots per round. The Coyotes are fourth in the league at 306.3 strokes per round. The Pioneers' Mary Weinstein enters with the top stroke average with 72.5 shots. Petersen is just outside the top 10 in the league with her average of 77 strokes per round.
 
The Course
Sand Creek Station Golf Club hosts the women's Summit League Championship for the first time. Located in Newton, Kansas, the course plays on the town's railroad history with many holes playing on the tradition of golf bordering railways.
 
The course will play 6,030 yards and to a par 72 with four par-3 holes, 10 par-4 holes and four par-5 holes.
 
The Preseason Poll
Denver was named the preseason favorite, picking up all eight possible first place votes. South Dakota was tabbed fifth in the poll, just two points out of fourth behind North Dakota State. Bartlett was named a Golfer to Watch in the poll.
 
Last Year
South Dakota claimed a program-best finish of fourth place at last year's event, which was held at ArborLinks Golf Course in Nebraska City, Nebraska. Bartlett and Petersen both return to the lineup from last year's championship event. Petersen placed in a tie for 16^th with Bartlett 23^rd.
 
North Dakota State claimed last year's team championship by four strokes over Denver. Sophie Newlove, then a junior, earned individual medalist honors for the Pioneers.