GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The University of North Dakota women's golf team prepares to take on conference opponents in the Summit League tournament in Newton, Kan. The tournament begins on Sunday, April 24 and concluded on Tuesday, April 26.
 
Sand Creek Station Golf Course is hosting the nine Summit League teams in this three-day tournament. By the time it is all said and done, the team will have played 54 holes to determine the champion. The total yardage for the course is 6,000 with the front nine totaling 3,102 and the back nine totaling 2,898. Both the front and back nine have a par of 36 for an ending par of 72 for the course.
 
Head coach Travis Amendt has chosen the line-up for the tournament. It consists of seniors Abbie Kelm and Morgan Hetletved, junior Pemika Ponlamuangdee, and sophomores Carrie Carpenter and Josalynn Abbott.
 
Abbott has had experience playing at Sand Creek Station and shares the areas that the team will need to focus and be strong on as they face the course head on.
 
"To be in the running for a conference championship, our team needs to make sure we're very conscious of the conditions. Sand Creek Station is largely familiar to wind along with longer holes," said Abbott. "Another thought to keep in mind while playing is approach shots. Although Sand Creek Station may have bigger putting greens, that is also something that can hurt the field because of the larger ridges and quicker greens. The biggest asset we can have going into conferences this year is confidence, and by confidence, I mean going into it believing we will win, especially with a tougher course like this."
 
Coach Amendt touched on how confidence will play a factor as the team faces conference opponents that they may not have faced during the regular season.
 
"Confidence is at an all-time high this week," shared Coach Amendt. "We talked all year about finding the game you will bring to conference and using the Fall/Spring tournaments as experience to become confident…we are there and ready."
 
Building on the confidence that the team has built seems to be a common message as they head to Newton. As a veteran on the team, Hetletved reflected on some of the successful rounds the team has had and how they can use that success to face a tough course and tough conference opponents.
 
"I think those rounds will for sure be in the back of our minds as a confidence boost because we know we are capable of shooting those low scores," said Hetletved.
 
At the end of the day, the North Dakota women's golf team is looking forward to the opportunity to compete at Sand Creek Station.
 
"It is exciting for me to compete at Conference even though I just recovered from a wrist injury," exclaimed Ponlamuangdee. "I am looking forward to playing at the course, and I am hoping for good conditions and nice weather. The goal for this tournament is to avoid three-putts, enjoy the game and do my best."
 
Like Ponlamuangdee, Carpenter has set goals for herself that follow the theme that Coach Amendt and others have mentioned: confidence in yourself and the team.

"This week at the Summit League Championships, I hope to play my best golf and hit each shot with confidence. This is what we have worked for all year, and I am extremely proud of my teammates and all the work we have put in," mentioned Carpenter. "This week, I know we will all support each other and play some great golf as a team. I'm excited to be able to play at Sand Creek Station again, and I cannot wait to see what my teammates and I will accomplish in Kansas!"
 
Kelm, the other veteran on the team, expressed similar goals for her team and herself as she heads into the tournament having placed in the top ten (T-7th) at the team's last outing.
 
"Team goals I have for conference are to have sub 300 scores for each round. I think we are playing really well right now, and we have shown that we can shoot those scores any day. We were also picked seventh in the Summit League preseason poll, and I know we all believe we aren't seventh so proving that wrong is an important goal," commented Kelm. "A personal goal of mine along with playing well is just to enjoy the moment with my teammates and on the course since this is the last one."
 
With all members of the team aiming for the same goal, Coach Amendt feels as though the team is prepared.
 
He shared what he believes it will take to win this weekend: "The team that wins will be the one who doesn't beat themselves. No big numbers, no 3 putts, and being able to have good bounce-back holes. We know we have to hit a lot of greens in regulation and take advantage when we are inside 10-15ft. I like our chances this week!"
 
Live stats for the tournament will be available for all three days and can be found at thesummitleague.org. The team will tee off at 8 AM on Sunday.