WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wis. (Blugolds.com) - For the second year in a row and seventh overall, the UW-Eau Claire women's golf team won the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship. This year's event took place at Bull's Eye Country Club in Wisconsin Rapids.
The Blugolds battled their way back after being in a two-way tie for second place after day one to take the crown with 989 strokes at the three-day, 54-hole event. UW-Stevens Point finished second with 1,004 strokes while UW-Whitewater was third with 1,021.
With the win, the Blugolds automatically qualified for the 2011 NCAA Division III Championship, which will be contested May 10-13 at Mission Inn Resort in Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida, hosted by Oglethorpe University and the Central Florida Sports Commission. At last year's national championship, the Blugolds took third.
The seven titles for the Blugolds is a league-best. Stevens Point and Oshkosh have captured three while Whitewater has earned two in the 14-year history of the tournament.
Winning individual medalist honors was the Blugolds' Sara Mattes (Jr.-La Crosse, Wis./Central), who finished with 242 strokes in the 51-golfer field. A Blugold has won individual medalist honors eight straight seasons (Susan Karlman - 2003, Maggie Loney - 2004 & 2005, Torie Ives - 2006, Meghan Sobotta - 2007, Katie Maurer - 2008 & 2009, Sara Mattes - 2010). Two other Blugolds also claimed conference medalist honors before 2003 (Kristi Moss - 2001, Kelly Harper - 1998).
After Mattes, four other Blugolds finished in the top seven.
Catherine Wagner (So.-Austin, Minn.), who led after day two, tied for second with 243 strokes. She was very consistent, shooting an 81 all three rounds. She tied for third at last year's championship.
Emily Swift (Jr.-Onalaska, Wis.) finished with 247 strokes to tie for fourth with teammate Maggie Lattery (Jr.-Lake Nebagamon, Wis./Northwestern), who golfed at the event as an individual. Jamie Hauser (Jr.-Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead), who also golfed as an individual finished tied for sixth with 249 strokes.
In 19th place overall with 262 strokes was Lauren Gault (Jr.-Shorewood, Wis.) while Katie Maurer (Jr.-Forest Lake, Minn./Convent of the Visitation), who won conference medalist honors in 2008 and 2009, tied for 26th with 269 strokes.
Also golfing as individuals were Katie Ecker (So.-Hudson, Wis.) and Katie Swift (Sr.-Onalaska, Wis.), who tied for 12th and 16th, respectively. Katie Swift was named to the All-Sportsmanship Team, which is chosen for individuals that displayed exemplary sportsmanship throughout the season.
