Waldorf repeats, captures title in NIACC Fall Invitational
By: Matt Oliver
FORT DODGE – Behind four top-seven performances, the Waldorf University women’s golf team repeated as the NIACC Fall Invitational champions on Monday.
The Warriors, who also won the NIACC Spring Invitational during the 2015-16 season, turned in an 18-hole score of 314 strokes to win the fall tournament for the second consecutive year.
“It was outstanding from top to bottom,” Waldorf coach Mark Clouse said. “Everybody did very well.”
Maggie Peters captured first place for the Warriors just one day after a second-place finish in the Viterbo University Invitational. The senior from Jewell locked up the individual title, shooting a career-low of 75 on the par-72 layout at the Fort Dodge Country Club.
“That was great to see,” Clouse said. “She’s doing really well right now.”
Waldorf junior Halle Hauer fired a 79 to earn runner-up honors. Juniors Fernanda Valdes andKailee Ward tied for third as they carded 80-stroke totals.
“Four of the girls in the top three usually is going to lead to a pretty good result for the team,” Clouse said.
Sophomore Haley Lawrence secured seventh for the Warriors, turning in an 87. Waldorf sophomore Haleigh Biernacki tied for 11th with a 93, and sophomore Mckenzie Fahrni tied for 14th with a 98.
The NIACC Fall Invitational has become a tournament the Warriors have enjoyed in recent years, and the confidence in their play has generated a string of success. Originally scheduled for last Thursday at the Mason City Country Club, the tournament was forced to change its venue to Fort Dodge due to unfavorable course conditions resulting from last week’s rainfall.
“This is a golf course that not all of them had played before,” Clouse said. “There’s something about this tournament that brings out the best in the women’s team.”
Peters was Waldorf’s only golfer who had previously competed at the Fort Dodge Country Club.
“She was looking forward to it when they had to change the venue,” Clouse said. “It turned out great.”
Consistent scores led to a solid victory for the Warriors, who won the tournament by 27 strokes. Iowa Central Community College, which is ranked No. 15 in the latest National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II poll, earned second with a 341-stroke total. North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC) finished third with a team score of 416.
Waldorf returns to action this Saturday against NCAA Division III’s Iowa Wesleyan University in the battle for the Purple Cup. The meet, which will be a dual or match-play event, is set to begin at 11:30 a.m. at Forest City’s Bear Creek Golf Course.
The Warriors also host the Waldorf Invitational on Sunday, starting at 11 a.m. They’re looking to bring even more consistency as they compete on their home course.
“We’re looking forward to our event,” Clouse said. “I know that we can do even better, so we’ll see if we can keep that trend continuing in the right direction.”