Eckenrod, who prepped at Newman Catholic in Mason City, said she also considered Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee, Wis. and Upper Iowa University in Fayette.
“They have a really good program and their team is really team oriented,” Eckenrod said. “Their coach is really nice and I think he’s going to be able to help me with my short game.”
Eckenrod said she’s glad her 4-year collegiate decision is out of the way.
“I was nervous about where I was going to go,” she said. “I’m happy I made the decision.”
NIACC golf coach Chris Frenz said Eckenrod’s strength is her “competitive drive.”
“That’s it, without a doubt,” the coach said. “She’s got a great head for the game. She does a good job of thinking her way around the golf course.
“She hits the drive extremely well and her short game has been really good so far this spring. It’s all clicking right now.”
Eckenrod was the meet medalist at the Iowa Central Invitational on April 15 with a 39-40 – 79. She also placed fourth at the DMACC Invitational on April 4 with a 44-41 – 85 and was fourth at the AIB Invitational on April 12-13 with a 86-82 168.
“We really haven’t had much practice,” Eckenrod said. “It’s just been a lot of repetition into the nets.”
At NIACC
2011 fall season highlights: Placed fifth at DMACC Invitational (Sept. 8) with a 44-45 – 89 … Tied for seventh at Iowa Lakes Invitational (Sept. 20) with a 45-46 – 91 … Meet medalist at NIACC Invitational (Sept. 22) with a 41-40 – 81 … Placed fifth at Ashford University Invitational (Sept. 26) with a 50-39 – 89.
2011 fall season
Sept. 8 (DMACC) – 44-45 – 89; Sept. 10-11 (Hibbing Community College) – 93-87 – 180; Sept. 20 (Iowa Lakes) – 45-46 – 91; Sept. 22 (NIACC) – 41-40 – 81; Sept. 26 (Ashford University) – 50-39 – 89; Oct. 8 (Waldorf College) – 40-58 – 98.
Low 18-hole round: 81 (Sept. 22 at NIACC); Low 36-hole score: 180 (Sept. 10-11 at Hibbing Community College). 18-hole average (7 rounds): 89.7.
2012 spring season highlights: Placed sixth in Iowa Intercollegiate tournament in Panora (March 24-25) with a 83-83 – 166 … Tied for sixth at DMACC Invitational (April 5) with a 41-45 – 86 … Placed fifth at Region XI meet in Ankeny (April 27-28) with a 93-85 – 178 … Placed 57th at NJCAA meet in Daytona Beach, Fla. (May 14-17) with a 91-88-96-90 – 365.
2012 spring season
March 24-25 (Iowa Intercollegiate) – 83-83 – 166; April 5 (DMACC) – 41-45 – 86; April 13-14 (AIB) – 105-85 – 190; April 16 (Iowa Central) – 44-40 – 84; April 27-28 (Region XI meet in Ankeny) – 93-85 – 178; May 14-17 (NJCAA meet) – 91-88-96-90 – 365.
Low 18-hole round: 83s (March 24-25 at Iowa Intercollegiate meet); Low 36-hole score: 166 (March 24-25 at Iowa Intercollegiate meet). 18-hole average (12 rounds): 89.1.
2012 fall season highlights: Placed third at DMACC Invitational (Sept. 6) with a 43-39 – 82; Was meet medalist at Iowa Lakes Invitational (Sept. 23) with a 40-37 -77 as Lady Trojans set a school record with a 327.
2012 fall season
Sept. 3-4 (Mount Mercy) – 95-91 – 186; Sept. 6 (DMACC) – 43-39 – 82; Sept. 8-9 (Wartburg) – 88-89 – 177; Sept. 23 (Iowa Lakes) – 40-37 – 77; Sept. 30-Oct. 2 (Grand View) – 86-89 – 175; Oct. 7 (Waldorf) – 49-46 – 95.
Low 18-hole round: 77 (Sept. 23 at Iowa Lakes); Low 36-hole score: 175 (Sept. 30-Oct. 2 at Grand View). 18-hole average (9 rounds): 88.
2013 spring season highlights: Placed fourth at DMACC Invitational (April 4) with a 44-41 – 85 … Placed fourth at AIB Invitational (April 12-13) with a 86-82 – 168 … Was meet medalist at Iowa Central Invitational (April 15) with a 39-40 – 79.
2013 spring season
April 4 (DMACC) – 44-41 – 85. April 12-13 (AIB Invitational) – 86-82 – 168. April 15 (Iowa Central Invitational) – 39-40 – 79.
Average (4 rounds): 83. Low 18-hole round: 79 (April 15 at Iowa Central). Low 36-hole score: 168 (April 12-13 at AIB).
Career bests
Low 18-hole round: 77 (Sept. 23, 2012 at Iowa Lakes); Low 36-hole score: 166 (March 24-25, 2012 at Iowa Intercollegiate meet).
Good for you, Alex. Fine young woman.