The UW Oshkosh women’s golf team finished as champions at the Mad Dog Invite this last weekend.

This is the Titans final match before the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship next week in Reedsburg, Wisconsin.

The Mad Dawg Invitational pitted UWO against six other Wisconsin colleges this past weekend.

Junior Hannah Braun led the charge for the Titans as she won the meet coming back from a two-stroke deficit on the second day of the invite. Braun finished with a 157 on the weekend.

For her efforts, Braun was awarded her third WIAC Golfer of the Week award this season.

This is her second tournament victory of the year and it came at no better time as the team prepares for postseason play. The Titans out-shot conference foe UW-Stout by eight shots to win the invitational.

Braun said even though they see conference opponents like Stout at a lot of the tournaments UWO goes to, their focus remains on playing the best golf they can.

I don’t think we ever will focus on battling with Stout,” Braun said. “Our focus is on our game and how we can improve and play the best golf we as a team can.”

Braun said conference will be a battle but the Titans must focus on their own game instead of looking at how their opponents are doing.

“Obviously conference will be incredibly close with Stout, Whitewater and ourselves, but our goal is never to beat them,” Braun said. “If we play to our ability and focus on our team, the rest will take care of itself.”

Senior Kayla Priebe took second to Braun by the slimmest of margins, shooting a 158 on the weekend. Priebe was consistent both days as she shot scores of 79 to help the Titans secure the victory.

Priebe echoed Braun about the plan to stay focused and only worry about what they can control on the course.

“Stout and Whitewater have been great competitors for us throughout my years as a Titan, and this year is no different,” Priebe said. “Our team’s plan for the season is to work hard in practice every week and try to improve at each tournament so that by conference we will be ready to play our best golf and have fun.”

Junior Dianna Schiebe came home in 10th while freshmen Margherite Pettenuzzo and Erika Priebe finished 11th and 14th, respectively.

Head coach Liza Ruetten said the girls work well together, which helps them help each other out.

“The girls continue to play smart and are excelling at keeping their emotions in check,” Ruetten said. “Their team dynamic also allows them to rely upon one another during the two rounds of the tourney. Each player knows what they are capable of shooting and each player knows they have a teammate who is also capable of going low.”

Ruetten said the way the team can succeed is if the team as a whole shoots well.

“The key to winning for the team is to have four of the five reaching their individual goals and ideally all five,” Ruetten said. “If each hits their individual goals, the team will come out on top.”

The WIAC championship held at Reedsburg Country Club in Reedsburg, Wisconsin will start at noon on Friday, Oct. 6 and continues at 10 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.