NIACC's Paige Danger gets a hug from coach Chris Frenz after Danger shot a career-best round of 76 on Wednesday at the NJCAA Division II national golf tournament in Boone.

May 15, 2025

Trojans move up to 7th at nationals

BOONE - It was a career-best round for NIACC sophomore Paige Danger Thursday at day three of the NJCAA Division II national women's golf tournament at Cedar Pointe Golf Course.

By seven strokes.

Danger, who is from Iowa Falls, shot a round of 76 to help propel the Trojans into seventh place heading into Friday's final 18 holes. Danger's previous career-best round was 83 at the Grand View Fall Invitational on Oct. 14, 2024.

"Wow," NIACC coach Chris Frenz said. "What a great round (Thursday) for sophomore Paige Danger.

"I'm so happy and proud of her for coming through with a career best 76 (Thursday) under very difficult conditions. She was just very confident over every shot (Thursday), but getting an eagle at the par 5 12th hole really catapulted her into a great day."

The 76 by Danger was the best round of the day on the extremely windy Cedar Pointe Golf Course. Sauk Valley's Katie Drew had the second best round with a 78.

The 76 by Danger is the best round at the national tournament in the Frenz era, which started in 2007. The 76 is also tied for the ninth best overall round in the Frenz era.

NIACC shot a round of 333 on Thursday, which was the second best round of the day. Tournament leader Shelton State CC shot a round of 332 on Thursday.

NIACC is in seventh place with a three-day total of 336-355-333. Shelton State CC is the leader at 311-304-332 - 947 and Mesa CC is in seccond place at 317-317-339.

Iowa Central (327-330-346 - 1,003) and Murray State (Oklahoma) (333-335-352 - 1,003) are tied for third place.

"As a team, we shot our best score of the season," Frenz said. "I couldn't be more happy about how these five have really kept their focus.

"It's tough to play four straight days of championship level golf, but they've really embraced the challenge and picked each other up. We're looking forward to the final day (Friday)."

On Thursday, NIACC also received a 79 from freshman Meghan DeLong, 89s from freshmen Abby Boell and Kenedee Frayne and a 91 from freshman Ashyln Berven.

DeLong is in 11th place with rounds of 79-82-79 - 240. Danger is in a tie for 17th place with rounds of 84-86-76 - 246.

With Danger and DeLong both shooting in the 70s on Thursday, it is the first time in the Frenz era that two NIACC women's golfer shot in the 70s in the same round.

The top 18 at the national tournament receive all-American honors.

Berven is in 50th place with rounds of 84-93-89 - 268. Boell (95-94-89 - 278) and Frayne (89-100-89 - 278) are tied for 60th place.

The Trojans will tee off hole No. 1 on Friday. Frayne tees off at 8 a.m., Boell is at 8:10 a.m., Berven is at 8:20 a.m., Danger is at 8:30 a.m. and DeLong is at 8:30 a.m.

Team standings - Shelton State CC 311-304-332 - 947, Mesa CC 317-317-339 - 973, Iowa Central 327-330-346 - 1,003, Murray State 333-335-335 - 1,003, Wallace State 338-333-352 - 1,023, DMACc 339-341-343 - 1,023, NIACC 336-355-333 - 1,024, Jefferson State CC 342-351-346 - 1,039, SUSCC 343-344-354 - 1,041, Snead State CC 333-343-370 - 1,046, Iowa Lakes 357-344-358 - 1,059, Roane State CC 350-351-358 - 1,059, Carl Sandburg 363-366-365 - 1,059, Rend Lake 372-359-376 - 1,094, Northwest Mississippi 367-372-375 - 1,114.

TOP NIACC WOMEN'S NATIONAL TOURNAMENT ROUNDS UNDER FRENZ (2007-)

Paige Danger (Day 3, 2025) 76

Meghan DeLong (Day 1, 2025) 79

Meghan DeLong (Day 3, 2025) 79

Meghan DeLong (Day 2, 2025) 82

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