This past weekend, the Blugold Women’s golf team defended their nationally-ranked status by taking first at their home meet, the Georgianni Memorial Invite.

The game was held at Mill Run and Wild Ridge golf courses this previous Saturday, Sept. 4th and 5th.

Junior Katie Maurer said the team did what they were planning to do at the tournament: prove their presence and their readiness to face other teams who pose challenges.

“We said from the start we wanted to prove ourselves to the number two ranked team (Gustavus Adolphus College, Minn.), and we did just that,” Maurer said.

The girls as individuals also played excellent games, contributing to the overall victory. Junior Sara Mattes took second place overall in the invitational, with Maurer tying for fourth with Junior Emily Swift.

The entire team placed in the top 30 slots for individual results, pushing the Lady ‘Golds into first place over Gustavus Adolphus and UW-Whitewater.

Meghan Sobotta, Blugold alumni and new head coach for the Lady ‘Golds, reflected on the girl’s performance from this weekend.

“I’m proud of what they did this weekend,” she said. “I want them to continue to do as well as they have (for the rest of the season), and I believe that they will.”

The team is currently ranked third in the nation, and hopes to defend that title in the upcoming season.

Sobotta said the 2009-10 season lead the team to tie the all-time school record for women’s golf. Additionally, the team sent Sophomore Catherine Wagner and Junior Katie Maurer to the 1st Hooters Women’s Collegiate Team Championship in Georgia during July 2010.

While the team is a notable and major force in women’s golf, Maurer said the major goal for the team is still to win the conference title.

“Our other main goal for the year is to let everyone know we’re coming to play, and we are not going to give anything away this year.”

This weekend (Sept. 11), the team will head to Waverly, IA for the Wartburg Invitational. With two more weekends of tournaments out of state, the girls will then return to Wisconsin for the WIAC Championship on Oct. 8-10 in Wisconsin Rapids. After the championships, the team will be finished until springtime – and Nationals – rolls around again.

“I want the girls to keep playing, stay focused and work hard,” Sobotta said. “That’s all I can ask of them. They really want to win and succeed, both for themselves and the team.”