CRESCENT, Mo. – The Gustavus women's golf team opened the spring season on Saturday, March 22, traveling to Missouri for the Wash U Spring Invite, featuring 15 teams from across the Midwest, including seven in the national rankings. The Gusties took 14th through day one with a round one 332 (+48), seven strokes out of the top-10. Round two, scheduled for Sunday, March 23, was canceled due to course conditions.

Lauren Hubbart (Jr., Hastings, Minn.) led the Gusties through round one with an 80 for 41st overall. Not far behind was teammate Riley Zebroski (So., Watertown, S.D.), who scored an 81 for 46th. Maren Masters (So., Shakopee, Minn.) posted an 84 with a four-shot birdie on hole 13 for an 84 and 62nd, while Mary Kate Hewitt (So., Edina, Minn.) took 74th with an 87. 

Jenna Piepkorn (Jr., Plymouth, Minn.) and Josie Raiche (So., Orono, Minn.) rounded out the competing Gusties with a 95 and 99 for 89th and 94th, respectively. Piepkorn added a four-shot birdie alongside Masters, posting hers on hole two. 

"The first tournament of the spring is always a test of nerves and mental tenacity," said assistant coach Sarah Wolter '02. "The players persevered through some challenging course conditions with a lot of winter kill and recently aerated greens. I'm proud of how they represented Gustavus both on and off the course. We're competing in a challenging field against some of the top teams in the country, many of which have been competing for several weeks already."

No. 31 Grinnell (Iowa) took first in round one with a 293, followed by a 298 for UW-Stout and a 300 for Illinois Wesleyan. Grinnell's Kavya Keshav led the field individually with a five-under 66.

The Gusties return to Minnesota to host the annual Gustie Spring Invite in Hastings, Minn. at Emerald Greens on April 12 and 13.