Waldorf takes fourth in NSAA Championships
By Aaron Schneider
LINCOLN, Nebraska – The Waldorf University women’s golf team compiled a 72-hole team score of 1,389 to take fourth place in the North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) Championships, which concluded on Tuesday.
Putting together their top two rounds in the final two days of conference tournament, the Warriors closed out a spring campaign that included victories in four of six competitions.
“It was a really good finish,” Waldorf coach Mark Clouse said. “The women have had an outstanding spring and they played well at the conference meet.”
Waldorf finished the tournament, turning in a 688-stroke total for the final 36 holes, which was played on the par-71 layout at Wilderness Ridge Golf Course. The first two rounds were held in September at Oxbow, North Dakota.
Fernanda Valdes captured fourth for the Warriors with a 326-stroke finish, carding scores of 80 and 84 in the final two rounds. The sophomore from Morelia, Mexico earned first-team all-conference honors for the second straight season. Valdes has also recorded top-10 finishes in all 22 competitions during the first two years of her collegiate career.
“She’s always near the top of the leaderboard providing a really good score for our team,” Clouse said. “I expect that trend to continue next year as well.”
Maggie Peters claimed eighth with a 337 after firing rounds of 85 and 79 in the final two days of the tournament. The junior from Jewell, who concluded her first year at Waldorf, landed second-team all-conference recognition.
“Maggie had a great final round,” Clouse said. “That was nice to see her end her season on a high note.”
Sophomore Trinity Hill secured 14th with a 373-stroke total behind a 101 and 97 during the final two rounds. Hill locked up second-team all-conference honors for the second consecutive year.
“To have good representation on the all-conference teams, that bodes well for the future,” Clouse said.
Sophomore Kailee Ward took 16th for the Warriors with a 386-stroke total after contributing scores of 94 and 96 for the final two days of the tournament.
Waldorf sophomore Hallie Hauer, who did not compete during the fall portion of the tournament, put together rounds of 83 and 87.
This year marked Waldorf’s first season in the NSAA, which tested a young Warriors team in the cumulative conference tournament format.
“To have so many underclassmen on the roster and playing in the conference event is a great experience,” Clouse said. “They’re performing well, and that’ll help their game continue to improve.”
Bellevue University, ranked No. 8 in the latest National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) poll, posted a team score of 1,234 to capture the conference championship by a 111-stroke margin.
Viterbo University (1,345) locked up second while the University of Jamestown (1,374) took third. Waldorf (1,389) finished 15 strokes behind Jamestown, which is receiving votes in the national poll. Valley City State University, Dickinson State University and Presentation College were represented by individuals who competed in the tournament.
Bellevue recorded the top four individual finishes. Wendy Monfort won the individual title with a 307-stroke total. Natalia Soria (311), Karissa Moreland (316) and Maria Saavedra (317) rounded out the top-four. The Bruins advance to the NAIA National Championships, slated for May 17-20 at Savannah, Georgia.
The Warriors return their entire roster as they look forward to a strong 2016-17 campaign.
“We’re very young, and that’s exciting,” Clouse said. “I’m confident that we’ll continue to improve as a team. We’ve done well to this point, and it’s exciting to think about where we can be this time next year.”