The Panther women’s golf team notched a first place victory at the Missouri Valley Conference Preview as they near the end of their fall schedule.  The Panthers carded a total of 942 in the preview held in Burlington, Iowa that spanned Sept. 23-24.

Last year, the young group of golfers took second place at the MVC Championships in Chesterton, Indiana. Hungry for more success, the team worked hard in the off-season and it paid off at the preview.

“Oh gosh, I’m really proud,” head coach John Bermel told Panther Sports Talk.  “You know, going into the deal, we thought we were the best team, and we proved it. A couple of guys asked me, ‘Well, you must have played really well.’ I said, ‘I think we’ve got better than that.’”

The Panthers sat in first place from the beginning in Burlington where they ended day one with a team total of 621.

Juniors Hannah Bermel and Emily Snelling tied for first place at the Preview with final scores of 229. Snelling missed the first tournament of the season due to injury, but still came back to tie for first. Mason City native Sydney Eaton tied for 25th place, carding a score of 241. Annika Patton tied for 42nd, with Cedar Falls native Hailey Bermel to follow, tying for 61st. Coach Bermel said the team, “is still trying to get better each week.”

Burlington has hosted golfers Gene Elliot and Mike McCoy, two of the best amateur golfers in state history, during the Iowa Mid-Amateur Championship. Next year, the city will hold the MVC Championships.

Up next, the Panthers will travel to Manoa, Hi., for the Rainbow Wahine Invitational from Oct. 28-30 to finish off their fall schedule.