Nov. 21, 2005

The University of Northern Iowa women's golf team closed its fall season at the Arkansas Invitational. The Panthers have high hopes for the upcoming spring as head coach John Bermel was pleased with his top three golfers.

"If you look at our top three they are pretty good," Bermel said. "Dana Moening had the lowest stroke average but Stef Nelson beat her three out of the five tournaments, too. That's a nice one-two combination, also anytime you get a freshman like Steph Easterling coming in here that shoots as well as she did it's a plus. I think that come spring time Steph Easterling will be even better."

Moening (Cold Spring, Minn./Rocori) led the Panthers again this fall. She has been a dominant player on the team for three seasons now and hopes to finish strong in the upcoming spring. Starting in every competition, Moening led the team with a 77.2 stroke average. She also had the lowest round on the squad, 72, which she carded twice, once at the North Texas Classic and again at the Huskie Classic. Moening shot an impressive nine rounds in the 70s, second highest on the team.

Junior Stef Nelson (Fort Dodge, Iowa/Fort Dodge) was right behind Moening this fall. She started in all five meets, compiling a 77.5 stroke average through 13 rounds. Nelson was the most consistent golfer on the squad, shooting 11 of 13 rounds in the 70s. She shot her low round of the fall in the first round of the North Texas Classic with a 74.

Newcomer Steph Easterling (Pewaukee, Wisc./Catholic Memorial) proved herself to the upperclassmen the way she competed this fall. The freshman was third on the team by stroke average and rounds in the 70s. After starting in all five meets, she compiled a 79.2 stroke average through 13 rounds of play. She shot her lowest round (76) twice, in the second rounds of the Wolf Pack Invitational and the ASU Lady Indian Classic.

"No matter what, you can't forget she (Easterling) has only been here two months and it's hard to believe that with how good she is playing," Bermel said. "She's comfortable and seems to be able to handle the pressure of playing; she just wants to win."

Junior Emily Heseman (West Des Moines, Iowa/Valley) started in four of five meets this fall. Through 10 rounds of play she had an 82.6 stroke average. She shot her low round of the season, 78, at the Lady Indian Classic in the first round.

Senior Amanda Paa (New Ulm, Minn./New Ulm) competed at three meets over the fall and compiled an 83.8 stroke average. She shot her lowest round 81 in the first and second rounds of the Huskie Classic.

Freshmen Heather Frye (Fort Dodge, Iowa/Fort Dodge) and Kim Weber (Bernard, Iowa/Cascade) made their collegiate debuts this fall. Weber had one start this fall and competed individually at another meet. Through five rounds of play she had an 84.8 stroke average.

Frye had two starts and also traveled to two meets to compete individually. Through ten rounds of play she compiled an 85.4 stroke average. Her low round, 76, was carded at the Lady Indian Classic in the second round.

"My hat is off to Heather Frye, she shot three rounds in the 90s in Reno and then came back at Arkansas State and shoots a 76. That's pretty good if she can do that," Bermel said.

"They're hungry, there's no question. They want to get good, see how good they can get and see what happens at the conference tournament."

The spring season starts March 15 in Tampa, Fla. at the NIU Snowbird Intercollegiate.

 

Date Tournament Location

Mar. 15-16 NIU Snowbird Intercollegiate Tampa, Fla.

Mar. 26-27 Saluki Invitational Carbondale, Ill.

Apr. 3-4 Payne Stewart Memorial Springfield, Mo.

Apr. 16-17 State Farm MVC Championship Wichita, Kan.