Rogers State second, NSU third in MIAA Championship
JOPLIN, Mo. – Rogers State finished second and Northeastern State third behind Central Missouri at the MIAA Championships on Wednesday.
After three rounds at the par 72, 5,800 yard Eagle Creek Golf Club, the Hillcats finished in second place with a card of 939 (+75), just three strokes off the tournament champion, Central Missouri. As a team, the Hillcats had the low round of the tournament in the final round with a 304 (+16).
In total, RSU had three individuals finish in the top 10. Marelda Ayal led the Hillcats and was named to the All-Tournament team after finishing in a tie for fifth while shooting 232 (+16) for the tournament. Raquel Flores finished in eighth with a card of 234 (+18). Lydia Sitorus finished in a four-way tie for 10th with a 237 (+21). Ellen Loving finished in 19th with a 241 (+25). Jaelynn Unger rounded out the squad in a five-way tie for 22nd with a 244 (+28).
The Hillcats, who ranked No. 4 in the most recent Central Region rankings, will now wait to see if they earn an at large bid to the NCAA Division II Central Region Championships scheduled for May 8-10 at the Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort in Larchwood, Iowa.
Northeastern State moved up one spot on the leaderboard upward despite playing a bag down through the final 36 holes. Nina Lee carried the RiverHawks through the three-day tournament and never departed the top contenders in the field of 11 teams. The fifth-year senior turned in a 228 (75-78-75) and was four strokes back of the medalist in fourth. Lee was tied for the tournament lead with 35 pars and had five birdies.
Yasmin Hang was tied for tenth place overall, shooting a 237 (79-81-77). She paced the RiverHawks with eight birdies. Sam Maceli shot a 242 (81-80-81) and was tied for 20th place. Kelly Swanson was 34th on the player leaderboard carding a 252 (88-81-83).
Northwest Missouri’s Paige Hoffman took medalist honors by one shot with a 224.
The RiverHawks were ranked fifth in the NCAA Central Region heading into the week; selections for the postseason will be announced on May 1.