The short game has plagued the Austin girls' golf team all season long, but it hasn't kept the Packers from winning.

Nearly the entire Austin roster struggled to slim strokes from its short game, but Brittany Bertilson's career-low score of 38-38--76 cut enough off the top for a pair of Big Nine Conference dual wins Tuesday night at Mankato West.

Bertilson tallied just 29 putts while tying her career low score. Strangely it wasn't low enough to earn medalist honors as Mankato West's Michelle Untiedt shot 38-37--75 to take the top individual spot, and the Scarlets' Jesse Shin was close behind with 77.

"We had two fantastic rounds from Brittany," said Austin coach Mark Anderson. "She had 29 putts and played outstanding. We needed her score to be low since West has two players shooting in the 70s."

Even with a pair of sub-80 scores, West finished third at the Big Nine triangular. Austin's 350 led the way, followed by Winona's consistent score of 355 and West's 359.

Carissa Gabrielson continued to tear up the links with yet another careeer-low round. Gabrielson's round of 42-42--84 included 31 putts, well below what the team average has soared to so far this season.

"Those two scores were very important for us," Coach Anderson said. "I watched these two play a couple of holes and they did an unbelievable job of getting up and down when they missed greens."

Rounds of 95 from Claire Johnson and Andrea Petersen scored Austin's final two spots, helping the Packers to a 5-0 start in conference golf. The Packers' next scheduled meet is Tuesday at the Red Wing Invitational at Mississippi National.

Call Ross Thede at 434-2234 or e-mail him at :mailto:sports@austindailyherald.com.

Results:

AUSTIN (350) -- Brittany Bertilson 38-38--76, Carissa Gabrielson

42-42--84, Claire Johnson 46-49--95, Andrea Petersen 47-48--95, Noelle Wiebelhaus

47-49--96, Margaret Wagner 49-53--102.

WINONA (355) -- Laura Salmon 42-39--81, Traci Ciszak 46-44--90, Katie Tropple 44-47--91, Amber Kowakzyk 44-49--93.

MANKATO WEST (359) -- Michelle Untiedt 38-37--75, Jesse Shin 39-38--77,

Krista Thompson 50-53--103, Ashley Leiuemann 58-46--104.