Season closes with third straight NAIA Championship appearance
For the third straight year, another successful season came to a close for St. Ambrose at the NAIA Women's Golf Championships.
After hosting the event the previous two years at TPC Deere Run, the Bees played the National Championships at Eagle Crest Golf Club in Ypsilanti, Mich.
The top 30 teams in the country battled for a National Title with British Columbia ultimately prevailing at the four-round event that ended Friday. British Columbia had rounds of 297-288-296-288 for an 1169 to claim the red banner. Keiser (1193) was second and Marian (1194) finished third.
British Columbia's Jessica Ng earned individual medalist honors after shooting a 5-under 283 (69-69-72-73). SCAD Savannah's Sharon Shan was national runner-up with a 286. Butpapaporn Sukterm (288) from Lindsey Wilson took third and Una Chou (289) from British Columbia ended fourth.
It was a return appearance at the National Tournament for several Bees, who missed the cut following Wednesday's round.
Amara Lytle, just named a first-team all-conference performer for the third time in her Bee career, played in her third consecutive NAIA Championship. SAU's lone senior carded rounds of 98 and 90 for a 188.
Like Lytle, every other Bee posted a lower score in the second round.
Anna Hurning, Gabrielle Langlois and Aleanna Mendoza, each playing in her second straight championship, made double-digit stroke improvements from Tuesday to Wednesday.
Hurning posted the team's best score at the event, shooting a 180 following a second-day 84, SAU's low round of the tournament. She opened with a 96. Langlois, a second-team all-conference pick, put together rounds of 99 and 88 for a 187. Mendoza shot a 109-98 for a 207.
In her first Nationals opportunity, freshman Addy Heineke shot a 102-95=197.