The 2016 season will mark a year of firsts for Bethel’s women’s golf team as they hope to bounce back after a disappointing MIAC championship finish.

Mathias Durie | Sports Reporter

After expecting to finish in the top three, the Bethel University women’s golf team finished last season with a fifth place finish at the MIAC Championship meet. The Royals had three second place finishes and a first place finish during the 2015 season. Christine Piwnica led the team with an average round score of 80 which is eight over par. Coach Trent Anderson is hoping to improve and finish in the top three this season. The team’s focus for the 2016 season is based upon a book entitled Extraordinary Golf.

“If you’re not enjoying it, if you’re missing the amazing shots, you’re so caught up in yourself and the struggles you’re having then you’re not playing extraordinary golf,” Anderson said.

The team has four seniors (Abby Perrenoud, Kalyn Root, Leah Swanson, and Hannah Williams). Coach Anderson has been focused on helping those seniors pass down the mentality and worth ethic they have created to the younger players so that they can keep it going after the seniors graduate. Most of the girls have been playing together for at least two years now so they have grown very close as a team.

“The strengths are the inner core of who they all are and that they love each other,” Anderson said “It helps them all play well because they know each other is rooting for them.”

The 2016 women’s golf team is making history at their season opening meet, the CSB Invitational in Sartell, by sending two full teams to an event which has never been done before in the history of Bethel Women’s golf.

The players’ coach Anderson hopes will make the biggest impact this year and continue their success from last year are senior Leah Swanson and Junior Christine Piwnica. Piwnica has set a goal to make it to Nationals as an individual and finish in the top five in every tournament. Anderson is also looking for Kalyn Root and Hannah Williams to be more consistent this year and give the team some more depth.

Anna Roesler and Kayla Ruf are freshmen that are also PSEO students who bypassed their senior year of golf and school to come play at Bethel, hoping to make an impact.

After opening the season at the CSB Invitational Sept. 3-4, the royals travel to Waverly, IA for the Wartburg Fall Invitational Sept. 10-11.