LAKE CITY, Minn. – The Winona State University women's golf team cruised to become repeat champions at The Watkins Invitational, winning by 30 strokes.
Carly Moon repeated as the individual champion and was one of four Warriors named to the All-Tournament Team.
Winona State held a five-stroke advantage over UMary after day one, and then cut 14 shots on the second day to card a 646 (330, 316) as a team and run away with a 30-stroke victory. WSU's victory marked the second-consecutive year they have won their home event, The Watkins Invitational at The Jewel Golf Club in Lake City, Minn., under the guidance of head coach
Jeff Straight and assistant coach
Xenia Straight.
Moon, a junior from Baraboo, Wis., was tied for the lead after shooting a 77 (+5) in the first round. She improved by one stroke on the second day and finished the tournament with a score of 153 (+9) to earn medalist honors and repeat as champion. Moon led the field with 23 pars and added two birdies throughout the 36 holes.
Ellie Behring was named to the All-Tournament Team after tying for third place. Behring carded rounds of 80 (+8) and 84 (+12) to help the Warriors secure the team victory.
Kessa Mara ended the tournament with a score of 167 (88, 79) and tied for seventh place overall with teammate
Toni Baldwin, who shot rounds of 89 and 78. Mara and Baldwin joined Moon as the only three golfers to shoot below 80 during the second round.
Roycee Southerland rounded out the Warrior lineup with a top-10 finish after shooting a 168 with rounds of 85 and 83.
The Winona State B Team finished third in the field, while
Rachel Henderson and
Marah Rothgarn each earned All-Tournament Team honors. Henderson tied for third with a 164, and Rothgarn finished in fifth with a 165.
Brianna Novak and
Grace Van Hyfte completed the lineup for the squad.
The Warriors will compete on Oct. 8-9 at the Regional Preview, hosted by Augustana University in Larchwood, Iowa.
For the most up to date news in Warrior Athletics, please visit:
www.WINONASTATEWARRIORS.com and
@WinonaStateATH.
About Winona State University Athletics:
The Winona State University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, as an integral part of the educational mission of the institution, is committed to offering opportunities to experience academic and athletic excellence for our student-athletes through two simple words:
Graduate Champions.
Fourteen Warrior programs compete at the NCAA Division II level within the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). Winona State University competes as an affiliate member of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) in the sport of women's gymnastics.
