UPDATED: October 7, 2012 - 6:38 p.m.
WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wis. (Blugolds.com) - In a closely contested 2012 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Women's Golf Championship at Bull's Eye Country Club, UW-Eau Claire finished in third place out of seven teams while UW-Stout won the title and the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championship that will be conducted May 14-17, 2013, in Destin, Fla.
While Eau Claire had been in third throughout the three-day, 54-hole championship, the margin between the top three teams shrunk significantly throughout the event. In what turned out to be the most closely contested conference championship in history, the Blugolds were third with 1,026 strokes while UW-Stout won with 1,024 and UW-Whitewater took second with 1,025. The 1997 championship was decided by two strokes (Stevens Point first with 704, Eau Claire second with 706) while two other championships (1999 and 2008) were determined by three strokes. The first year of the championship was 1996.
Senior Catherine Wagner (Austin, Minn.) ended strong, recording a second place finish with 246 strokes. She was tied for seventh after day one but jumped to second following the second day of competition. Last year she finished second at the championship while tying for second her sophomore year and tying for third her freshman season. Last spring, Wagner won the NCAA Division III individual national title.
Kate Engler (So.-Beloit, Wis./F.J. Turner) also finished well, taking third place with 248 strokes. Last season she tied for 10th with 256 strokes.
While the Blugolds had a total of nine golfers at the championship, four competed as individuals. Those competing as part of the scorig team all tied for 23rd or better. Emily Stone (So.-Eden Prairie, Minn.) tied for 13th place with 262 strokes while Mandi Salo (So.-Hermantown, Minn.) was 19th with 272. Salo was also named to the WIAC All-Sportsmanship Team, which was chosen for individuals that displayed exemplary sportsmanship throughout the season. Alexandra Nye (Fr.-Edina, Minn.) finished tied for 23rd with 276 strokes. Leading the group of four individuals was Aimee Stolt (Sr.-Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata), who came in 25th place with 279 strokes.
UW-Stout's Brittany McNett-Emmerich captured medalist honors in the 48-player field with a 54-hole total of 234 strokes. She is the first individual in program history to secure earn medalist distinction at the league event.
Coming into this year's championship, the Blugolds were seeking their fourth straight WIAC title. No team in the history of the conference had ever won four in a row but the Blugolds hold the record for three in a row, acheived between 2009 and 2011, along with 2004 through 2006.
The Blugolds will be back in action in the spring.
UPDATED: October 6, 2012 - 6:28 p.m.
WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wis. (Blugolds.com) - After day two of the 2012 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Women's Golf Championship at Bull's Eye Country Club, UW-Eau Claire remained in third place out of seven teams.
The Blugolds are in third with 689 strokes. UW-Whitewater leads the field with 673 while UW-Stout is in second with 684 strokes.
With four Blugolds in 19th place or higher, Catherine Wagner (Sr.-Austin, Minn.) jumped to second place with 164 strokes to lead Eau Claire. Yesterday, she was tied for seventh. Kate Engler (So.-Beloit, Wis./F.J. Turner) is in fourth place with 166.
Brit McNett-Emmerich of UW-Stout leads the 48-golfer field with 161 strokes.
Tomorrow the teams will be back in action for the final day of the championship, which will get underway at 11 a.m.
UPDATED: October 5, 2012 - 5:50 p.m.
WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wis. (Blugolds.com) - After day one of the 2012 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Women's Golf Championship at Bull's Eye Country Club, UW-Eau Claire is in third place out of seven teams.
The Blugolds finished the first 18 holes with 352 strokes. UW-Whitewater leads the field with 344 while UW-Stout is in second with 351 strokes.
With five Blugolds tied for 20th or better, Kate Engler (So.-Beloit, Wis./F.J. Turner) led the team with 85 strokes, in sixth place. Catherine Wagner (Sr.-Austin, Minn.) is tied for seventh with 86.
Nicole Westcott of UW-Whitewater leads the 48-golfer field with 82 strokes.
Tomorrow the teams will be back in action for the second day of the championship, which will get underway at 11 a.m. The tournament will conclude Sunday.
October 4, 2012
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) - The UW-Eau Claire women's golf team will strive towards a fourth consecutive crown at the 2012 WIAC Women's Golf Championship. The 17th gathering of league teams will be hosted by UW-Stevens Point and determined over 54 holes at Bull's Eye Country Club in Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., Oct. 5-7.
