RAPID CITY, S.D. – The Lewis-Clark State College women’s golf team stands in eighth place after Tuesday’s opening round of the NAIA Women’s Golf Championships at the Meadowbrook Golf Course.
The Warriors, playing in the morning, shot a team score of 319, which is 31 strokes over par and just five shots out of being in fifth place. LCSC women’s coach Steve Tilden said the team played extremely well and set the tone for a strong showing at the event.
The tournament, which features 28 teams along with individual players, is a 72-hole event and the second round will be played Wednesday. Although Tuesday’s conditions were ideal, Wednesday’s weather forecast calls for rain and winds of more than 40 miles per hour.
The tournament continues through Friday.
The Warriors, who earned the last at-large berth in the tournament, played well on Tuesday and trail leader California Baptist by only 22 strokes. LCSC’s best finish in the tournament is seventh, which was three years ago. The team placed 19th a year ago.
Junior Cortney Shrout, who tied for the Frontier Conference’s Player of the Year honors, led the Warriors with a round of 77 over the par-72 course. That put her in a tie for 28th place after the opening round. Seniors Chantelle Beveridge and Katie Fuqua, fired rounds of 78 and 80, respectively, which are among the best scores the two have posted this season. Senior Juanita Villa had an 84 and freshman Madeline Jarrett an 85.
A number of other Region I teams are competing in the tournament. The University of British Columbia is tied for second overall at 302, while the University of Victoria is tied for fifth at 315, just four shots ahead of LCSC. Concordia of Portland, Ore., stands at 326, which is tied for 12th overall, while fellow Frontier Conference member Rocky Mountain posted a 335 to stand 19th overall.
