SMITHVILLE, MO. – Capped by a career-best 75 from Sydney Hubbard and a second consecutive sub-80 round by Lexi Hanson, the University of Sioux Falls Women's Golf Team made history with a DII-progam-best third-place finish at the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Women's Golf Championships, which concluded Sunday at the Paradise Pointe Golf Complex.  

Hubbard and Hanson, who carded a 76 on Sunday, were part of a final round 320 by USF as the Cougars finished at 977 (338-319-320). USF, which was picked seventh in the NSIC preseason coaches poll, jumped into third place on round two and maintained their spot during round three, despite some wind and cold conditions. As a result, USF registered the best finish ever at the NSIC Championships, bettering the fourth place result in the 2012-13 season.

"I'm very proud of this team and how they stayed in it today and finished strong," said USF head coach Sam Vosler. "They showed growth and progression all season and it was gratifying to finish third when we were picked 7th in the preseason poll. What was the most important is that we met our team and individual goals," he added.
 
Augustana captured the team title with a 54-hole total of 926 or 62 over par (321-299-306).  The Vikings finished 18 strokes ahead of second-place finisher, Minnesota State, which finished at 944 or 82 over par (313-319-312), ahead of the Cougars at 977 and 113 shots over par. The individual champion was Emily Israelson of Augustana with a 228 (80-72-76) as she finished just ahead of Sophie Hill of Concordia St. Paul at 231 (80-74-77).

On day three, the Cougars nearly matched their day two total of 319, carding a 320. On the day, Hubbard had her career-best 75, followed by a 76 from Hanson, 81 from Kami Love, 88 by Alexandra Nutter and 97 from Lexi Jonas. On the day, USF totaled 35 pars, including 13 by Hubbard, and five birdies.

"We didn't have a great start to our first nine holes but we really pulled it together and finished well as a team," said Vosler. "We have a bright future with this team, it's only the beginning," he added.
 
As was the case throughout the season, Hanson, a sophomore from Chanhassen, Minn., led the way. She finished a career-best ninth by carding a 236 (85-75-76) or 20-over par. Hanson, who had 24 par rounds and the third most birdies in the tourney with seven, rebounded after an 85 on Friday. She carded back-to-back rounds of 75 and 76 and now has 11 sub-80 rounds this season. It was the fourth time this season, she registered back-to-back sub -80 rounds. The 75 by Hanson tied the team-season-best (Kami Love, 75, Nebraska-Kearney Invite, March 25).  On the day, Hanson opened with a 39 and scored a 37 on the back nine. She had eight pars and birdies on holes nine, 14 and 16.

While Hanson's was tearing it up on the front nine, freshman Sydney Hubbard of Onalaska, Wis., was putting together a career-best round of 75. After entering the day in 29^th place, she finished 16^th at 245 (88-82-75) or +29. Hubbard, who had 24 pars and three birdies during the tournament, showed consistency and shot-making throughout the day. She totaled a team-best 13 pars on Sunday and added a birdie on 14.

Junior Kami Love finished tied for 20^th at 247 (83-83-81). Love, a junior from Marshall, Minn., was perhaps USF's most consistent golfer throughout the tourney with rounds of 83, 83 and today registering an 81. On Sunday, Love, who finished the tournament with four birdies and totaled 18 pars, opened the front nine with a 42 and carded a 39 over the last nine holes. Love's played this weekend mirrored her consistency all spring. In seven of her last nine rounds, Love has carded a sub-84 total.

Freshman Alexandra Nutter had a strong freshman campaign and finished in a tie for 23^rd at 249 (82-79-88). Nutter, who was 13^th coming into Sunday, struggled a bit with the conditions but still carded an 88 (44-44) with consecutive rounds of 44. She led USF with 25 pars during the tourney. With an 82 and 79 in the opening two rounds, she finished her freshman season with 11 sub-84 rounds.

Another freshman, Lexi Jonas of Hudson, Wis., finished 44^th with a three-round total of 273 (92-84-97). After opening with a 92 on Friday, Jonas carded an 84 on Saturday and finished with a 97 today.  Four times this season, including the 84 in the second round of the NSIC Championships, she carded sub-85 rounds.

Across the three days of competition, USF totaled 93 pars and 16 birdies as a team.

The entire field for the NCAA Women's Golf Championships will be announced Monday, April 30 on NCAA.com. Four, 54-hole Super Regional tournaments will be conducted to determine the participants in the championships finals. Twelve teams and six individuals, not on those teams, will compete at each Super Regional. The maximum number of participants is 264. The low three teams and the low three individuals, not on those teams, will advance to the finals. Tiebreakers and playoffs will be used to determine team and individual champions and advancement to the finals. Super Regional tournaments are considered preliminary rounds of NCAA championships competition and all national championships policies will apply.

The NCAA Championships will be held May 16-19 at Bay Oaks Country Club in Houston Texas.