The UNI women’s golf team kicked off their 2023 spring season this weekend at the UTRGV Invitational in McAllen, Texas. The team battled schools from all across the nation, ranging from the usual suspects like Drake, Creighton and Indiana State to teams they don’t usually compete against like Houston Christian and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. The team placed eighth out of 14 teams, tying Indiana State with a score of 936 or a +84 on the day as a whole. Houston Christian took home the gold, followed by UT Rio Grande Valley and Lamar. 

UNI’s top three golfers were all even with each other for the bulk of the competition. McKenna Mallow led the team with a total score of 232. She finished with 76 in the first round, 79 in the second round and rounded the competition out with a 77 in the final round. She finished tied for 36th place with three others. Victoria Hualde Zuniga and Anna Nacos were right behind her with a score of 233, tying with each other for 40th place. Both Hualde Zuniga and Nacos shot a 77 in their first round. Hualde Zuniga shot an 82 the next round but finished the invitational with a 74. Nacos stayed pretty consistent throughout the competition, scoring a 77 in the second round and a 79 in the third. 

Anna Jensen finished alone in 53rd place, shooting a 238 in the tournament. She shot an 82 in the first round and finished the next two rounds with a score of 78. Rylie Driskell, playing as an individual, finished in a tie for 62nd position. She shot an 84 in her opening round and shot an 80 in the final two rounds. Madison Humke tied for 73rd to finish the tournament. She shot an 84, 82 and 88 in all of her rounds, respectively. Lily Bredemeier, also competing as an individual, played an impressive first round, shooting a 77, before ultimately withdrawing from the competition.

The Panthers will return to action this weekend as they compete in the Bobby Nichols Intercollegiate in Sevierville, Tenn. from March 12-14.