Colorado State University Athletics
Women's golf recap: CSU prepares for spring season
11/19/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
Nov. 19, 2009
Complete Release in PDF Format 
By Leah Sakdol
Athletic Media Relations
FORT COLLINS, Colo. - The women’s golf fall season came to a close after the Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown in October. The team ended with two top-10 finishes and two records broken.
Ptarmigan Ram Fall Classic...
The Rams began the fall season at home with the Ptarmigan Ram Fall Classic in Windsor, Colo. Upon completion of the first round, the Rams broke the school record for low- round team score with a 281(-7), one stroke under the previous record set at 282 (-6). After the final round, the team broke another school record for three-round tournament score. CSU fired an 863 (-1), surpassing the old record by six strokes.
The Ptarmigan Ram Fall Classic was a great start for the team and for the individuals. Sophomore Melissa Martin finished in sixth place, the top finish for the Rams after firing a three-round score of 212 (-4), setting a new career-low.
Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational...
The second tournament for the Rams was the Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational, hosted by New Mexico. The team played its best but finished 16th out of 18 teams. Seniors Kasey Claussen and Natalie Stone had the top finish for the Rams, tying for 29th with scores of 225 (+6).
“Natalie has come so far and will be a strength for our team in the spring,” commented Head Coach Angie Hopkins. “She and Kasey are set on making their mark on the CSU record books. They certainly have the games to do it.”
Heather Farr/CU Memorial...
At the beginning of October, CSU headed to the Heather Farr/CU Memorial in Erie, Colo. Proving that the New Mexico tournament did not get the Rams discouraged, CSU finished in fourth place out of 20 teams with a score of 908 (+44). Claussen had an outstanding tournament, finishing in second place out of 104 individuals. Her three-round score was 218 (+2).
Price’s “Give ‘Em Five” Invitational...
The next tournament for the Rams was the Price’s “Give ‘Em Five” Invitational in New Mexico. Freshman Emily Roering stepped up and set a new career low of 72 (E) during the first round. Roering started every tournament for the Rams during the fall season.
“Emily has gained a ton of experience this fall,” noted Hopkins. “She has a lot of confidence in her game for the spring. I think she will definitely be a player to watch this spring”
After firing an 80 (+8) during the first and second rounds, Martin shot a 72 (E) helping the team finish tied for 11th out of 18 teams.
Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown...
Boulder City, Nev., was the site of the Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown, the final fall tournament for Colorado State. Unfortunately, the weather was not on the Rams’ side. The winds were consistently blowing around 30 miles per hour during the second and third rounds of the tournament. The team shot an even 288 during Round 1, putting it in sixth place, but could not hold on. The Rams slipped to finish tied for 11th at the end of the tournament with a score of 912 (+48). Martin came out as the top finisher for CSU with a score of 226 (+10), allowing her to finish tied for 14th. Claussen shot a 4-under 68 during the first round, but could not keep her ground and finished with a score of 234 (+18).
“Bri and Melissa have struggled this fall with their swings,” said Hopkins. “By UNLV, they were getting their confidence back and I know with a little determination and hard work the spring will be much better for them.”
Fall statistics...
• Senior Kasey Claussen leads the team with a 74.33 stroke average, 80 percent of fairways hit per round, and 74 percent of greens in regulation hit per round.
• Senior Natalie Stone leads the team in sand saves at 46 percent. Stone has improved in every statistic from last spring. Her stroke average has dropped more than two strokes from 76.85 to 74.33.
• Freshman Emily Roering has made the starting line up during the entire fall season.
• Sophomore Brianna Espinoza has a stroke average of 78.27.
“Having only two top-five finishes was a disappointment to our fall season,” said Hopkins. “Fortunately, we have plenty of time in the offseason to work on our games and focus on a successful spring. This team has the talent and potential to play in the postseason and I fully expect them to achieve this.”
National Letters of Intent...
Colorado State signed three recruits to National Letters of Intent on Nov. 11. Betsy Kelly is from Forest Lake High School in Forest Lake, Minn. Sarah Roering (sister of current CSU golfer Emily Roering) is from Minnewaska High School in Minnewaska, Minn. Christina Spinzig is from Evergreen High School in Evergreen, Colo. The three additions will begin their CSU careers in the fall of 2010.