CSC golfers break two records, threaten more

By the time the last swing was taken by CSC women’s golfers this past Tuesday at Tiara Rado Golf Club, Grand Junction, Colorado, two school records had been broken and two more were nearly broken.

“It was a great team effort as we broke both the 18 and 36 hole team records,” Head Coach John Ritzen said of his team’s performance at the RMAC Preview Tournament. “We knew our girls were capable of breaking these records and the individual records will soon follow.”

Chadron was 12th of 17 at the tournament shooting 327 on Monday and 319 on Tuesday. 

According to the CSC sports information department, both the single day total of 319 shot Tuesday, and the two-day total of 646, were three strokes fewer than previous school records set in April of 2016 at Coldwater Golf Club, in Phoenix.

The team’s finish was again bolstered by strong performances from first-year players. 

Chadron was led at the tournament by Kayla Elder, freshman of  who shot 78 Monday, then two-strokes fewer on Tuesday. Her 154 two-day total earned her 17th place. 

CSC sports information states the two-day score was one off the all-time pace set in 2007 by Ally Malzahn. 

Freshman Alpine Hickstein, of Chadron, improved upon her first meet performance tying for 24th place after shooting 82-75-157.

Hickstein’s second day score of 75 was just shy of matching the college’s 18-hole record set by Malzahn who shot a 74 in Denver, in 2007, and matched former Eagle Kelly Haynes’ 75 at Coldwater, in 2015, according to CSC. 

Senior Sam Rahmig, of Gering, once again provided consistency for the Eagles, shooting 81-82-163, her third-best performance as an Eagle. 

Freshman Anna Branscome, of Lakewood, Colorado, and Abby White, of Ontario, Canada, rounded out the Eagles’ team card with Branscome shooting 86-88-174, and White shooting 89-86-175. Branscome placed 73rd while White tied for 74th.

“We had great performances from all the girls,” Coach Ritzen said, “but we also know that they can do even better. That makes us very excited for the rest of the year.”

The team will get a week off before traveling to South Dakota Mines’ Hardrocker Invitational at Arrowhead Country Club in Rapid City, South Dakota, October 1 and 2.