PANORA, Iowa – NIACC’s women’s golf team bounced back from a tough outing at the AIB Spring Invitational on Friday to finish the tournament fifth.
NIACC slashed 25 strokes off their Friday score to shoot 364 on Saturday, and shot 753 for the tournament. Bellevue University (NE) won the event with a score of 665.
“It was a rough day on Friday and we put ourselves in too big of a hole to get back into the tournament on Saturday,” NIACC golf coach Chris Frenz said. “But we did much better on day two and we played more like the team we know we have.”
Mikayla Smith (Fr., Mason City, IA) finished tied for ninth individually with a 174 to lead the Trojan effort. She had an 83 in Saturday’s round, while Alexandria Eckenrod (Fr., Mason City, IA) shot an 85.
“Mikayla has been battling her swing a little bit lately, but today she was driving the ball very well and her short game was much better,” Frenz said. “Alexandria came back from a frustrating round on Friday. I expected her to play well on day two and she needed that after a tough Friday round.”
Sarah Steinauer (Fr., Clarinda, IA) placed 17th in the tournament with a 188, Eckenrod was tied for 18th with a 190 and Moriah Sherman (Fr., Charles City, IA) shot 198 to tie for 21st.
NIACC will go to the Iowa Central Invitational in Fort Dodge on Tuesday and then host the NIACC Invitational on Thursday.
TEAM:
1) Bellevue University 343-322=665
2) William Penn 340-338=678
T3) AIB 363-376=739
T3) Iowa Western 382-357=739
5) NIACC 389-364=753
6) Iowa Central 389-398=787
Individuals: Mikayla Smith 91-83=174; Sarah Steinauer 97-91=188; Alexandria Eckenrod 105-85=190; Moriah Sherman 96-102=198
