Four top-10 finishes lift Waldorf to NIACC Spring Invitational title
By Aaron Schneider
MASON CITY – Four top-10 finishes lifted the Waldorf University women’s golf team to the NIACC Spring Invitational title on Thursday.
“Having four players in the top 10 really helps with the team score,” Waldorf coach Mark Clouse said.
The first-place finish marked the fourth victory for the Warriors in five competitions this spring. Waldorf also captured the tournament championship during September’s NIACC Fall Invitational.
“They definitely like this event,” Clouse said. “They’ve done well.”
Fernanda Valdes led Waldorf, securing third with an 18-hole score of 77 on the par-72 layout at the Mason City Country Club. The sophomore from Morelia, Mexico was paired with the No. 1 golfers in from opposing teams’ lineups.
“It’s always fun to watch because they know that somebody is going to do well in that grouping,” Clouse said. “They all played very well.”
Valdes held her own, contending for the top spot and finishing five strokes behind the individual champion.
“It’s great competition because they know each other from competing against each other several times,” Clouse said. “It was just a hole or two toward the end that separated them for the individual title.”
Sophomores Hallie Hauer and Kailee Ward tied for fourth for the Warriors, firing 80-stroke totals.
“It was great to see Kailee coming away with a top-five performance,” Clouse said. “She played very well.”
Junior Maggie Peters claimed 10th, providing Waldorf’s final team score with an 83. Sophomore Trinity Hill earned 19th as she shot a 91.
Freshmen Haleigh Biernacki, Haley Lawrence and Mckenzie Fahrni competed for the Warriors as individuals. Biernacki placed 22nd with a 94, Lawrence came in 28th with a 102 while Fahrni closed out the tournament in 29th with a 104.
Waldorf secured the tournament championship, putting together a team score of 320 to hold off Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) (324) by four strokes. DMACC is ranked No. 10 in the latest National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II poll. North Iowa Area Community College (345) took third, and Iowa Central Community College (352) rounded out the team standings in fourth.
Iowa Central’s Julie Laisney earned the individual title with an even-par 72 to defeat DMACC’s Ashley Dumler by two strokes.
The Warriors travel to Lincoln, Nebraska for the three-day North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) Championships beginning on Sunday at 9 a.m.
The overall NSAA Championship is determined by the combined fall and the spring performances. Waldorf enters the conference tournament in fourth following the fall portion of the NSAA Championships. The Warriors look to use their success from the spring to carry momentum into the conference meet.
“Our spring has been outstanding,” Clouse said. “We’re excited to go into our conference tournament, and hopefully the trend can continue.”