NSU, UCO finish 1-2 in Midwest Classic

WARRENSBURG, Mo. – Northeastern State closed out its fall season with an exclamation mark winning the Midwest Classic by eight shots with a team score of 596 (295-301). This is the second straight week that NSU recorded a tournament win.

The RiverHawks held off a late charge from UCO, who pulled even with them on the back nine. Northeastern State held steady on the final two holes to pull out the victory with a final score of 596 to UCO’s 604. The Bronchos did feature the individual winner in Susana Olivares at 1-over 141 after rounds of 72-69.

“Words cannot do justice to how proud I am of this team,” said head coach Scott Varner. “This is a huge regular-season win.  We preach that every shot matters, and we win and lose together as a team.”

Three of the five RiverHawks finished in the top-10, led by Kaylee Petersen, who took home second place with a score of 143 (71-72), just two strokes behind the winner.  Nina Lee fell off the lead but finished tied for fourth at 147 (69-78). The NSU sophomore would hit a hole-in-one to highlight her day on the 11th pin.

Aitana Hernandez took her fourth top-10 of the season and was sixth carding a 148 (76-72). Kelly Swanson carded a score of 160 (79-81) while Karlei Hemler finished at 162 (83-79).

The RiverHawks recorded 19 birdies as a team, second-most in the tournament behind Rogers State, who had 20.

Central Missouri finished in third, with Missouri Western, and Henderson State rounded out the top-five.

For UCO, Emma Shelley tied for seventh after rounds of 76-73, Madison O’Dell tied for 19th (74-79), Sydney Roberts tied for 58th (80-81) and Faith Stewart tied for 83rd (84-84).