Golf | 9/4/2019 8:52:00 AM

MOORHEAD, Minn.—The Minnesota State University Moorhead women's golf team opens the season on Friday with a dual against Minnesota Crookston. The event begins at 10 a.m. and will be held at Balmoral Golf Course in Battle Lake, Minn.

MSUM will follow with a trip to Bemidji, Minn. for the Tracy Lane Memorial on Sept. 9-10.  It's a busy fall for MSUM with seven events on the schedule.

The Dragons are led by returners Olivia Koskela, a sophomore who averaged 94.9 strokes per round a year ago, and junior Jill Safranski. Safranski was named the NSIC Elite 18 winner for women's golf, becoming the first MSUM athlete to earn the honor. She finished the season second on the team with a 96.1 stroke average. Safranski had a season best score of 89 where she finished second vs University of Minnesota Crookston.

Also back with significant experience are senior Jess Lhotak, who had one top 10 finish a year ago, and sophomore Dani Dokken, who shot an 85 for her best score of 2018-19.   Junior Amelia Meyer is also back and has appeared in three events over the past two seasons.

Four freshmen will look to contend for lineup spots: Madison Braun, Leah Kendall, Callie Krause and Meghan McBride.  McBride is from Lakeville, Minn., where she was a 4-year letter winner in golf and was a state qualifier as a junior.