Sophomore Amy Dahle, the only Gophers women’s golfer in postseason play, will begin the first round of the NCAA East Regional Golf Tournament today in Auburn, Ala.
“It’s kind of nerve-racking,” said Dahle, who is in her second NCAA Regional in two years at Minnesota. “I’m up against the best golfers in our district.”
Dahle said she was hitting the ball well during a practice round on Wednesday at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, the site of the tournament.
Women’s coach Kathy Williams said the course is difficult to play because of the size of the greens.
“It will boil down to putting,” Williams said. “The greens are 50 feet deep. Amy will have to be very precise with her wedge shots or very good in putting.”
Dahle, one of seven individuals at the tournament, is paired with Mary Moan of Princeton and Jenn Kangas of Michigan State. Dahle finished two shots behind Kangas two weeks ago at the Big Ten championships to finish fifth.
The golfers will play three rounds of 18 holes during the three-day event. Three individuals and eight of the 19 teams playing will qualify for the Women’s NCAA Championship, May 22-25 in La Quinta, Calif.
Mariucci Open plans set
The 23rd annual John Mariucci Golf Open will be June 10 at Majestic Oaks Country Club in Ham Lake, Minn., with former Gophers hockey players Neal Broten, Aaron Broten, Tom Chorske, Corey Millen, Ben Hankinson, Robb Stauber, Trent Klatt, Craig Johnson and Darby Hendrickson already indicating they will attend.
There is a $125 entry fee, and proceeds go to the Gophers hockey program.