Schroeder leads RiverHawks to second in Central Regional, UCO’s Martinez earns individual berth in championship

AXTELL, Neb. – The No. 10-ranked Northeastern State women’s golf team finished runner-up at the 2016 NCAA Central Super Regional, which was contested at the par-72, 6,200-yard Awarii Dunes Golf Club.

With the second-place effort, the RiverHawks have advanced to the 2016 NCAA Championship. The national finals are scheduled for May 18-21 at CommonGround Golf Course in Aurora, Colorado. NSU has qualified for its eighth NCAA Championship and the first since 2013.

Joining Northeastern State will be regional champion Augustana and Missouri Western State. The Vikings won the event at 17-over 881 (301-283-297), while the RiverHawks finished one stroke back at 18-over 882 (298-294-290). MWSU defeated Arkansas Tech in a three-hole playoff after the two teams tied for third at 35-over 899.

Senior Kayla Schroeder wrapped up by far the best tournament of her career after she tied for low medalist honors. Playing as NSU’s No. 5 bag, she claimed her first event championship after finishing at 1-over 217 (76-69-72). Entering the regional, her lowest career individual score was 75 and the lowest three-round score of her career was 237.

Three RiverHawks have now won individual titles this season, as Schroeder joined junior Baylee Price (four titles) and true freshman Ebba Moberg.

Price landed in solo fifth at 4-over 220 (72-75-73). True freshman Kelsey Lumpkin tied for 14th at 9-over 225 (73-77-75), and Moberg (77-75-74) and senior Charter Lawson (80-75-71) tied for 16th at 10-over 226.

The top three individuals not with an advancing team also earned bids to the NCAA Championship. Those were Daniela Martinez of Central Oklahoma, Caroline Fredensborg of Arkansas Tech and Rachel Gray of Concordia-St. Paul.

Central Oklahoma came up just short of advancing as a team, but Daniela Martinez punched her ticket to the national tournament with a clutch final-day performance at the NCAA Division II Central Regional here Wednesday.

The Bronchos closed with a 298 to finish in fifth place with a 901 total in the three-day, 54-hole tournament.

Martinez earned one of the three individual qualifying spots available for the national meet after tying for third in the medalist race.  She shot a final-round 74 to end with a 218 total, just one shot out of the lead, and will go to Denver, Colo. May 17-21 for the NCAA Division II Women’s Golf Championships.

Grace Shin led the Bronchos on the final day with a one-over 73, while Marla Souvannasing shot 74, Makena Mucciaccio 77 and Camilla Schou 79.

“We gave it a go and came up a little short today,” said head coach Michael Bond, whose team had made four straight national tournament appearances.  “We had a really good year and it’s disappointing not to move on, but I’m really proud of the way Dani played this week and look forward to seeing what she can do in the national tournament.”

Martinez struggled early with consecutive bogeys, but got a stroke back with a birdie on the par-4 sixth and made the turn at one-over 37.  The senior from Mexicali, Mexico was one-over through 15 holes before finishing bogey-birdie-bogey for a back-nine 37.

Shin opened with a birdie on the par-5 first hole and then reeled off 12 straight pars before making three consecutive bogeys on holes No. 15-17.  The freshman bounced back with a birdie on the par-5 finishing hole to cap the 35-38 round.

Souvannasing had a front-nine 39 before rebounding on the closing nine, making a pair of birdies against one bogey and six pars for a closing one-under 35.  The sophomore standout tied for 20th in the standings at 227.

2016 NCAA CENTRAL SUPER REGIONAL – Final Results
May 2-4, 2016 at Axtell, Neb.
(par-72, 6,200-yard Awarii Dunes Golf Club)

Team Standings

1.        #19 Augustana*                                301-283-297=881 (+17)

2.       #10 Northeastern State*              298-294-290=882 (+18)

T3.     Missouri Western State*                  297-295-307=899 (+35)

           #33 Arkansas Tech                           303-302-294=899 (+35)

5.        #24 Central Oklahoma                     297-306-298=901 (+37)

6.        Concordia-St. Paul                             300-301-301=902 (+38)

7.        Henderson State                               307-305-306=918 (+54)

8.        #39 Southwestern Oklahoma State  304-307-313=924 (+60)

9.        Minnesota State                                 309-312-305=926 (+62)

10.     #45 Lindenwood                              314-315-303=942 (+78)

11.     Upper Iowa                                        320-307-317=944 (+80)

12.     Central Missouri                                325-309-317=951 (+87)

Rankings reflect the latest Golfstat.com Polls

* = Advances to 2016 NCAA Championship

Top-5 Standings

T1.     Kayla Schroeder (Northeastern State) 76-69-72=217 (+1)

           Kali Trautman (Augustana)                         75-70-72=217 (+1)

T3.     Daniela Martinez (Central Oklahoma)        71-72-74=218 (+2)

Caroline Fredensborg (Arkansas Tech)     72-74-72=218 (+2)

5.       Baylee Price (Northeastern State)         72-75-73=220 (+4)

           
NSU Individuals

T1.     Kayla Schroeder                                76-69-72=217 (+1)

5.        Baylee Price                                       72-75-73=220 (+4)

T14.   Kelsey Lumpkin                                 73-77-75=225 (+9)

T16.   Ebba Moberg                                     77-75-74=226 (+10)

           Charter Lawson                                80-75-71=226 (+10)