RAPID CITY, S.D. – Led by standouts Macy Kleve and Klara Kleinig, the Chadron State women's golf team is in second place in the team standings halfway through their final fall competition at the Hardrocker Fall Invite at the Golf Club at Red Rock in Rapid City.
The Eagle team, which finished second in their most recent competition at the Yellowjacket Fall Invitational in Billings, are 11 strokes behind leaders Colorado Mesa with their score of 38-over 326. The competition is bunched together behind the Eagles, with hosts South Dakota Mines six strokes behind CSC, fourth-place MSU Denver nine strokes behind the Eagles and fifth-place Montana State Billings 10 strokes back. Eastern Wyoming, a "B" team from MSUB and Black Hills State round out the team leaderboard, with the last-place Yellow Jackets 20 strokes behind Chadron State's team total.
Chadron State's best round came from sophomore Macy Kleve, who turned in a round of 7-over-par 79 and is in a three-way tie for third place on the individual leaderboard. Kleve is the only golfer not from Colorado Mesa currently in the event's top five, with CMU teammates Hayden Hawley and Libby Bourassa co-leading at 6-over 78.
Klara Kleinig, coming off individual medalist honors and a program 54-hole course record in her last competition, is also in the top 10 after carding 9-over-par 81. Kleinig is in a four-way tie for ninth place, but just three strokes behind the leaders of a crowded top of the field.
Sophomore Lauren Knapp, competing in her hometown, is tied for 14th after shooting 10-over 82. Brooklyn Tychsen rounded out CSC's scoring four golfers with her round of 12-over 84.
Maggie Teague had a fascinating, up-and-down day. Teague finished with four birdies over her 18-hole round – the most of any golfer in the 49-player field – but difficulties on other holes around the course led to a final score of 16-over 88 and a share of 33rd place on the leaderboard. Taegan Bach, competing as an individual, shot 39-over 111 and sits 46th.
The tournament will conclude after the second 18 holes, with a 10 a.m. shotgun start scheduled for Tuesday morning. Chadron State's golfers will tee off between holes 1-3.
