As junior golf player Julia Austad reflects on the dual match against Benilde-St. Margaret’s April 13, she said the match felt pretty even, but the weather posed a challenge.

“Because it was raining, the course was super damp, so when you would hit the ball (it) wouldn’t roll as much as you would expect,” Austad said. “(The weather) just
made the greens and stuff a lot different than normal.”

Austad said she enjoys the casual atmosphere of dual matches but also looks forward to the first conference match April 19.

“Duals are more laidback and fun, but it’s fun getting to know girls from all different schools in the conference matches,” Austad said.

Head coach Zach Strouts said Park is prepared to face other schools in the conference because of their experience on the course.  

“The varsity girls have played on the big course, they know what they’re doing, they’ve been out there before. We’re basically just trying to get them some repetition, some swings to kind of get their game back in full golf season,” Strouts said.

Austad said the dual match against Benilde-St. Margaret’s allowed the team to speculate their upcoming competition.

“We know more about what our competition is and knowing how well we need to do. Also, (the dual match helped to) just getting out on a course and knowing what we need to work on personally,” Austad said.

Strouts said in order to perform well, the team must stay focused throughout the match.

“I think we’re right up there with everybody else. I just think that we just need to kind of compete and stick to our own game plan and not worry about what (other teams are) doing and I think we’ll be just fine,” Strouts said.

Park’s first conference match will take place 2 p.m. April 19 at Dwan Golf Course against Jefferson, Benilde-St. Margaret’s, Chanhassan, Chaska and Robbinsdale Cooper.