Trojans sit in 3rd after first day at district tournament
ANKENY - The NIACC women's golf team is in third place after the first day at the NJCAA North Plains District Tournament Monday at the Otter Creek Golf Course.
The Trojans shot a first-day total of 349. DMACC and Iowa Central share the first-day lead with identical rounds of 340.
"Overall, I'm really pleased with how we played as a team (Monday)," NIACC coach Chris Frenz said, "and we have kept our chances alive to potentially win this tournament and/or place high enough to get us to the national tournament."
Iowa Lakes is in fourth place with a 351 and Hawkeye CC is in fifth place with a 433.
The top three teams and top three individuals not on the top three teams qualify for the NJCAA Division II national tournament May 12-15 in Boone.
NIACC freshman Meghan DeLong is in third place heading into Tuesday's final 18 holes with an opening round of 82. The round of 82 is tied for the sixth best round at a regional/district tournament under Frenz, who started in 2007.
"Meghan DeLong jumped on the bogey train midway through her round," Frenz said, "but did an outstanding job of battling tough, windy conditions and birdied the tough eighth hole into the wind to keep herself within striking distance of the lead."
Iowa Central's Ivanna Becerra-Diaz is the individual leader with a 77. DMACC's Halle Hagberg is in second with a 81.
Also for the Trojans on Monday, sophomore Paige Danger shot a season-best round of 87, which is tied for eighth. reshman Kenedee Frayne shot a career-best 88, which is tied for 10th, freshman Addy Boell shot 92 and freshman Ashlyn Berven shot 98.
"It was a very impressive day (Monday) for Paige Danger and Kenedee Frayne," Frenz said. "Paige hasn't been able to play a lot this spring because she's involved in clinicals for the PTA program, but I knew would play well here as a sophomore.
"Kenedee Frayne was solid in the fifth spot and came through big time for us to count her score and keep her close. Addy Boell really had it going pretty good, but a tough stretch on the last three holes kind of did her in."
The second round of the district tournament is set to begin at 10 a.m. on Tuesday at the Otter Creek Golf Course.
"I'm confident both Addy and Ashlyn Berven will bounce back (Tuesday) and help us achieve our goals," Frenz said.
NIACC WOMEN'S LOWEST 18-HOLE REGIONAL/DISTRICT ROUNDS UNDER CHRIS FRENZ (2007-)
Mikayla Smith 78 (Day 2, 2013)
Brittany O'Brien 80 (Day 1, 2008)
Brittany O'Brien 80 (Day 1, 2009)
Mikayla Smith 80 (Day 2, 2012)
Savannah Lentz 81 (Day 1, 2015)
Mikayla Smith 82 (Day 1, 2013)
Thea Lunning 82 (Day 2, 2021)
Meghan DeLong 82 (Day 1, 2025)
