LITCHFIELD PARK, Ariz. – Chadron State placed four golfers in the top 25 of a 73-golfer field to finish in fourth place as a team at the SMSU Spring Invite, crucially ahead of several RMAC programs.
The Eagles finished with a 36-hole score of 628 as a team after beginning the event's second day in fifth place. Chadron State trailed winners Western New Mexico, Concordia St. Paul and Fort Lewis, who jumped all the way up from sixth place to finish four strokes ahead of the Eagles.
Chadron State leapfrogged two RMAC foes on day two that were in the top four of the team standings after round one – MSU Denver, who finished one stroke behind CSC in fifth, and Colorado Mesa, who finished sixth and six strokes behind the Eagles.
The Eagles achieved the strong team finish with their depth. As scores up and down the field increased in round two compared to round one,
Klara Kleinig remained tied for 10
th place after carding an 8-over-par 80 to go with her round one 75, finishing 11-over-par for the event.
Kleinig golfed consistently and avoided any blow-up holes, hitting 10 pars and eight bogeys over the course of her round and shooting 40 on both the front nine and the back nine.
Macy Kleve finished one stroke behind Kleinig in a tie for 13
th place, shooting 7-over 79 on the day and 12-over 156 for the tournament.
Allison Sanger was CSC's best performer on day two, carding a 4-over-par 76 on Tuesday that was among the day's top 10 lowest scores in the field to finish tied for 18
th at 13-over 157 overall. Sanger shot even-par 36 on the front nine, birdieing both the par-4 seventh and par-4 ninth holes.
Freshman
Lauren Knapp rounded out the team's scoring with a solid T-24
th place finish, recording a Tuesday score of 10-over 82 to finish 16-over 160 overall.
Payton Wise finished tied for 48
th place at 26-over 170 after shooting 88 on Tuesday.
Among Chadron State's two individuals, one improved upon her Monday round while one suffered a setback. Senior
Aubree Heinsma shot an 81 to finish tied for 43
rd place at 24-over 168 over two days. Sophomore
Brooklyn Tychsen shot a 90 on Tuesday and slipped to a tie for 54
th place at 31-over 175.
The Eagles will remain at the Wigwam Resort in Litchfield Park, Arizona for the SMSU Challenge this Thursday and Friday, although the competition will shift from the resort's Red Course to the Blue Course. Tee times have yet to be finalized.
