Trojans sit in 6th place after Day 1 at nationals
BOONE - The NIACC women's golf team sits in in sixth place Tuesday after the first day at the first-ever NJCAA Division II national tournament at Cedar Pointe Golf Course.
NIACC shot a season-best 336 and is in sixth place out of 15 teams. Shelton State CC is the first-day leader at 311 and Mesa CC is in second with a first-day score of 317.
Iowa Central is in third place with a 327. DMACC is in eighth place with a round of 339 and Iowa Lakes is in 12th place with a round of 357.
"We picked a good time to shoot our best score of the spring season (Tuesday)," NIACC coach Chris Frenz said, "and we're pleased with where we are at heading into day 2."
NIACC was led by freshman Meghan DeLong, who opened with a round of 79. DeLong is in a tie for 12th place with three other golfers.
The 79 by DeLong is the lowest round ever by a NIACC women's golfer at the national tournament under Frenz. The previous best round was an 83 by Mikayla Smith on Day 3 of the 2012 NJCAA Division I national tournament at the LPGA International course in Daytona Beach, Fla.
"Meghan got off to a bit of a rough start and was four over through five," Frenz said, "but then started getting things rolling on the back nine and she's got herself in position to make a move over the next three days.
"A 79 is a good score but her putter let her down a bit (Tuesday)."
Snead State's Ashley Nelson is the first-day individual leader with a 73. Mott CC's Kamryn Johnston, Murray State's Addison Furtick and Iowa Central's Ivanna Becerra-Diaz are tied for second with rounds of 74.
NIACC freshman Ashyln Berven and sophomore Paige Danger are tied for 29th with rounds of 84, which was a spring season best for both golfers. The rounds of 84 are tied for the third best rounds at the national tournament for NIACC women's golfers since 2007.
"Paige Danger was terrific on the front nine (Tuesday) (NIACC started on No. 10) and shot 38," Frenz said. "She ran into a little trouble on the fifth hole on the front side but really did a great job all day of keeping her head in the game.
"Ashlyn Berven got off to a great start, as well, and played solid all day and came in with a strong 84."
NIACC freshman Kenedee Frayne is tied for 49th with an opening round of 89. Freshman Addy Boell shot an opening round of 95 and is in a tie for 68th.
"Kenedee Frayne rolled in a couple of birdies on the day and hit the ball well off the tee and kept it in the 80s," Frenz said.
The second round of the tournament is set for Wednesday.
"We're looking forward to going out there (Wednesday) and climbing up the leaderboard," Frenz said.
Team standings - Shelton State CC 311, Mesa CC 317, Iowa Central 327, Snead State CC 333, Murray State 333, NIACC 336, Wallace State 338, DMACc 339, Jefferson State CC 342, SUSCC 343, Roane State CC 350, Iowa Lakes 357, Carl Sandburg 363, Northwest Mississippi 367, Rend Lake 372.
TOP NIACC WOMEN'S NATIONAL TOURNAMENT ROUNDS UNDER FRENZ (2007-)
Meghan DeLong (Day 1, 2025) 79
Mikayla Smith (Day 3, 2012) 83
Sarah Steinauer (Day 3, 2013) 84
Ashlyn Berven (Day 1, 2025) 84
Paige Danger (Day 1, 2025) 84
Sarah Steinauer (Day 1, 2013) 85
Mikayla Smith (Day 2, 2012) 85
Savannah Lentz (Day 4, 2015) 85
Alexandria Eckenrod (Day 1, 2013) 87
Mikayla Smith (Day 2, 2013) 87
Mikayla Smith (Day 4, 2012) 87
Alexandria Eckenrod (Day 2, 2012) 88
Brittany O'Brien (2009) 89
Thea Lunning (Day 3, 2021) 89
Kenedee Frayne (Day 1, 2025) 89
