Husker Women’s golf team anticipates doing well in new season

Although the Nebraska women's golf team had a long break from competition during the winter, they don't plan on letting time off hinder their performance. The golfers kicked off their spring season at the Lady Puerto Rico Classic a little over a week ago and head down south again this weekend to compete at the Westbrook Spring Invitational in Peoria, Ariz.

With the exceptionally warm winter this season, the Huskers were able to take advantage of the weather and play a couple of rounds in January. Even with that chance to get some practice in, they were still ready to get back into competition mode.

"You don't know what's going to happen until you step on that course and compete," NU coach Robin Krapfl said. "We just want to keep getting better from tournament to tournament and see where that takes us."

The Huskers started their spring season with their toughest competition of the year according to Krapfl.

With competing against some of the best, the Huskers got to see where they stood and what they need to improve on to be up there with the best.

"We need to show a little more consistency," coach Krapfl said. "We want our score to drop significantly."

While Nebraska was 14th out of the 15-team field in Puerto Rico, Krapfl believes they aren't far from competing against those top teams. The teams that the Huskers are golfing against this weekend will give them another good chance for comparison, as the competition will be more at their level.

"There is nobody in the field that is out of our league," Krapfl said.

One of the teams that Nebraska will be looking to battle against is Texas Tech. The Huskers concluded their fall season by finishing ahead of the Raiders at the Alamo Invitational. Texas Tech is currently ranked 28th nationally.

In order to have a strong showing this weekend, the Huskers will be looking for leadership from senior Madeleine Sheils. Sheils handled the strong field well at the Lady Puerto Rico Classic by finishing in eighth place with a three-round score of 220.

"I was proud of the way I played," Sheils said. "I was able to put three good rounds together."

Krapfl also recognizes the success Sheils is having.

"It's a real testament to the hard work she has put in," Krapfl said.

As Sheils' career as a Husker comes to a conclusion, she is looking for all of that hard work to pay off.

Most importantly, she is looking for another individual title. Sheils won the Edean Ihlanfeldt Invitational in Washington during the fall season, and in doing so tied the Nebraska single-round scoring record of 67. But for Sheils, it isn't only her hard work that has helped her succeed, but her passion for the sport as well. With all of this passion, she is looking forward to the tournament this weekend.

"It's another chance to compete, which is what I love," Sheils said.

And with Sheils' success leading the way, Krapfl is looking for the rest of the dedication from the Huskers to pay off and keep them near the top of the leaderboard.

"I want them believing that they are ready to play some good golf," Krapfl said.

angelahensel@dailynebraskan.com