NEWTON, Kan - The Fort Hays State women's golf team battled blustery conditions all week at the MIAA Championships at Sand Creek Station Golf Course, fighting its way to a sixth-place finish in the team standings. The Tigers had a pair of individuals place in the top 10, with Kira Mestl finishing in a tie for sixth and Morgan Brasser placing in a tie for ninth.
After sitting in eighth following a round one score of 30-over 318, the Tigers fought their way up to sixth thanks to posting the third-best score in round two on Friday, also a team total of 30-over 318. The high winds kept up in Saturday's round, when FHSU finished things off with a 51-over 339.
Mestl finished off her collegiate career with her best-ever individual finish. The senior posted rounds of five-over 77, six-over 78 and five-over 77 to finish one shot back of fifth place. Mestl played the par-5s in one-over for the week, second-best in the field of 55 players. She led the Tigers with six birdies over the tough 54 holes, tied for sixth-most overall.
Brasser sat in second after an opening-round score of two-over 74 before posting scores of eight-over 80 and 12-over 84 in rounds two and three.
Shauna Lee helped the Tigers tremendously in round two, posting the best round of the day on Friday and the second best round overall in the entire tournament. The freshman worked through the gale-force winds to post an even-par 72 in the second round, jumping 32 spots in the individual standings after a 13-over 85 on Thursday. She finished the week with an 11-over 83, placing in a tie for 15th.
Kerrigan Rudolph's score factored into the team total in the first and third rounds, with the sophomore finishing in 49th overall. Freshman Lexie Ridder's score was the fourth on the team in round two before she placed 54th by the end of the third round.
Nebraska-Kearney led wire-to-wire in the team race, placing first at 70-over 934, nine shots clear of Central Missouri. UCM's Claire Solovic came from behind to take individual medalist honors at eight-over 224.
The Tigers will see if any of their players are selected for competition in the Central Super Regional when the full field is released on Monday (April 25).
Full FHSU Results
T6th - Kira Mestl - 77 - 78 - 77 - 234 - +18
T9th - Morgan Brasser - 74 - 80 - 84 - 238 - +22
T15th - Shauna Lee - 85 - 72 - 83 - 240 - +24
49th - Kerrigan Rudolph - 83 - 89 - 92 - 264 - +48
54th - Lexie Ridder - 95 - 88 - 95 - 277 - +61
6th - Team - 318 - 318 - 339 - 975 - +111
FHSU Athletics