Warm weather and sunshine helped the Grand Valley State University women’s golf team break out of its winter blues and return to the course during its first spring tournament earlier this week in Lakeland, Fla.

This week’s Lady Moc Classic at The Club at Eaglebrook saw the team place 10th in the 19-team field that included such teams as first-place team Seminole State College, Florida Southern University and the University of Tampa. Several of the teams have had the advantage of playing outside over winter break.

“Overall we played well,” said senior Sarah Hoffman. “We have things to work on, but we competed against teams that have been playing the whole winter season. We haven’t played outside since November, so that’s obliviously a huge advantage for them and makes us work even hard.”

The Lakers started out stiff on Monday finishing their first round of 18 holes with a combined score of 324, they loosened up later on in the day finishing their second round with a 319.

On Tuesday, they shook out their nerves and played their best round of the tournament with a 312 securing their top-10 finish.

“It was all about getting back into competition play on Monday,” said sophomore Veronica Ryan. “Every shot mattered and we used the first couple of rounds to shake off our nerves. We went into the tournament with no expectations but we no we can do better.”

Hoffman also came away with a top 10 finish, playing a 73 in the first round and a 74 in the final to finish at 227 (9th). Ryan (24th) and freshman Kelly Hartigan (45th) both shot a 78 in the final round. With junior Marni Weinstein and freshman Molly Esordi finished 59th and 81st in the field.

“For our first tournament we didn’t ease into it,” Esordi said. “Monday was a 10-hour day with us playing 36 holes. We had to make sure we woke up on Tuesday with the focus put on that it’s a new day. We are happy with how we finished. It was nice to play some real golf again.”

The Lakers didn’t shy away from the competition when attending this tournament. Hoffman said she knows what it will take for this team to be at their bests.

“We needed the tough competition from this tournament to get us back into the mind set of playing again,” Hoffman said. “There is a huge difference being able to play on a course and hitting balls inside all winter. We couldn’t work on chipping or putting inside. We have a great facility but we can’t really simulate the conditions of certain aspects until we get on the course. We are right were we need to be after our first tournament.”

With the next week of from competition play the Lakers hope for decent weather to prepare for their next competition. They will be traveling back to Florida next Friday to compete in the Peggy Kirk Bell Invitational at Tuscawilla Country Club in Winter Springs, Fla.

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