NSU Sports
Don Vieth, Director of Athletics Communications
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Northeastern State bolted to an insurmountable lead after two rounds, then cruised to a 25-shot victory over the rest of the field to claim its second consecutive MIAA Women’s Golf championship at Swope Memorial Golf Course on Wednesday.
NSU carded rounds of 321-314-321=956 to out-distance rival Lindenwood (981). Central Oklahoma (985) shot the low round of the day, as well as the tournament, with a 313 to leap into third place, ahead of Missouri Western (997). Central Missouri (1001) rounded out the top five on the leader board.
“We preach about fighting for every shot and this was the epitome of it the last three days,” said head coach Scott Varner on his team repeating as MIAA Tourney champs. “Really, really proud of our girls because this was a true character test.
“Another mantra that I preach is championship character breeds champions. When you have this kind of adversity with as bad of weather as we had over three rounds of golf that we had, it was a gut check. It required a lot of character and our kids fought hard.”
The victory vaulted Northeastern State into next month’s NCAA Division II Women’s Regional by picking up the league’s automatic qualifier. NSU entered the MIAA Tourney as the Central Region’s No. 3 seed and will extend its season by at least a week with the NCAA Tournament beginning in Sioux Falls, SD. Teams will be announced during the NCAA Selection Show, which will be aired May 1.
In the individual race, Baylee Price finished as runner-up behind medalist Dakota Limkemann of Lindenwood. Limkemann beat Price by five strokes. Limkemann shot +15 for the tournament, which included a spectacular 75 during the final round. Halie Wright finished tied for fourth, while Ebba Moberg and Kelsey Lumpkin tied for sixth. Lexi Armon was just outside the top-10 at No. 11.