Trojans place 6th at national tournament
BOONE - The NIACC women's golf team placed sixth at the NJCAA Division II national tournament Friday at the Cedar Pointe Golf Course.
NIACC earned its sixth-place finish with rounds of 336-355-333-358 - 1,382. It is the highest finish at a national tournament for the Trojans, whose previous highest finish was 10th at the 2013 NJCAA Division I national tournament in Mesa, Ariz.
"I couldn't be more proud of these five players," NIACC coach Chris Frenz said of Meghan DeLong, Paige Danger, Ashlyn Berven, Kenedee Frayne and Addy Boell. "To finish sixth in the country at the first-ever NJCAA Division II women's national championship is tremendous.
"We really played outstanding as a team, especially on Thursday when the weather was horrible. Everyone contributed each day and picked each other up."
Shelton State CC was the NJCAA Division II national champion with rounds of 311-304-332-328 - 1,275. Mesa CC placed second with rounds of 317-317-339-336 - 1,309 and Iowa Central was third with rounds of 327-330-346-342 - 1,345.
DeLong, a freshman, tied for 16th in the indiviual medalist competition, which earned her NJCAA Division II all-tournament honors. DeLong shot rounds of 79-82-79-89 - 329.
"Meghan DeLong received all-tournament honors," Frenz said, "and to see Paige Danger go out in style with a great round of 76 on Thursday and to place 24th is unreal."
Danger, a sophomore, tied for 23rd with rounds of 84-86-76-91 - 337.
Also for the Trojans, Berven tied for 50th place with rounds of 84-93-91-93 - 381. Frayne tied for 55th with rounds of 89-100-89-86 - 364 and Boell tied for 61st with rounds of 95-94-89-92 - 370.
Frayne's 86 on the final day of the national tournament was a career-best round.
"The others, all freshmen, really improved each day and with this experience, they should really come in with confidence next year," Frenz said. "It's always tough to end the season, but again, I couldn't be more proud of these ladies both on and off the course."
Iowa Central's Ivanna Becerra-Diaz was the individual champion with rounds of 74-73-84-78 - 309. Becera-Diaz claimed the individual national title in a one-hole playoff over Mott CC's Kamryn Johnston.
Johnston had rounds of 74-78-79-78 - 309.
Final team standings - Shelton State CC 311-304-332-328 - 1,275, Mesa CC 317-317-339-336 - 1,309, Iowa Central 327-330-346-342 - 1,345, Murray State 333-335-335-349 - 1,352, Wallace State 338-333-352-349 - 1,372, NIACC 336-355-333-358 - 1,382, Jefferson State CC 342-351-346-344 - 1,383, DMACC 339-341-343-360 - 1,383, SUSCC 343-344-354-353 - 1,394, Snead State CC 333-343-370-351 - 1,397, Iowa Lakes 357-344-358-352 - 1,411, Roane State CC 350-351-358-375 - 1,434, Carl Sandburg 363-366-365-359 - 1,453, Rend Lake 372-359-376-363 - 1,470, Northwest Mississippi 367-372-375-384 - 1,498.
