OWASSO, OKLA. – The University of Sioux Falls Women's Golf Team, led by four players in the top-20, including a season-best second place individual finish from Lexi Hanson, finished a season-best second in the team race as the Hillcat Classic, hosted by Rogers State, concluded on Tuesday at the Bailey Ranch Golf Club.

The Cougars, which totaled 75 pars and 18 birdies,  finished at 647 (332-315) and moved up a spot in the team race by shooting 17 strokes better in the final round than day one. Rogers State, led by the individual medalist Jessica Green (148 – 73-75), won the competition with a 628 (323-305).   

"I am extremely proud of how well the women approached the golf course today. They played with great confidence and made great decisions," said USF Head Golf Coach Tavia Rutherford. "They fought hard throughout the round and showed great resilience. We will look to carry this momentum into next week," said Rutherford, whose team will compete at the Midwest Intercollegiate Invitational at the Mules National Golf Club in Warrensburg, Mo., on March 22-23.

Hanson, the reigning NSIC Golfer of the Week, finished at nine-over par 153 (77-76) by carding consistent rounds both days. The NSIC Preseason Player of the Year, Hanson opened the two-round classic by carding a 77 (39-38), which was five-over par. She had a birdie on hole one and then used 11 pars to finish with a 77. In the final round, Hanson had five birdies on holes 1, 3, 7, 8, and 10 along with four pars as she shot a 76 (41-35) with a five-over 41 on the front nine and a one-under par 35 on the back nine in the final round. She finished with six birdies and 15 pars in the two rounds.

USF sophomore Maggie Veenendall had a season-best seventh-place finish with a 17-over par 161 (82-79). In the opening round, she had a 10-over par 82 (38-44) as Veenendall recorded had eight pars to go with a birdie on hole 11. In the final round, she had an even par 36 on the front nine and finished with a seven-over par 43 as she registered seven pars and birdies on holes, 10, 11, 16.  She also had 15 total par holes and four birdies.

Senior Lexi Jonas finished 19th as she bounced back by bettering her day two score by 13 strokes. Jonas finished at 25-over par 169 (91-78).  Jonas had a team-high two birdies in the opening round and had a third birdie during the competition on hole six today to go with 11 pars.

Senior Kyleigh Moran finished tied for 20^th with a two-round total of 26-over par 170 (88-82). She improved her round score by six shots today with an 82 (41-41). She had birdies on holes one and four plus nine pars.  In the opening round, Moran had a birdie on hole 12 and four pars as she carded 88 (42-46).  As a result, she carded 13 pars and three birdies in the two rounds. 

Junior Marisa Weeks was just out of the top 20 as she had a 27-over par 171 (85-86). In shooting an 86 (44-42), she had six pars. She opened with a 13-over par 85 (41-44) on Monday as she had five pars and a birdie on hole 13. In total she had 11 par holes and a birdie.

In her first competition of the season, sophomore Maddi Hanson finished tied for 45^th as she had a 188 (88-100). She opened the tourney with an 88 (43-45), which included six pars and a birdie on the 14^th hole. Today she had four pars as she concluded the tourney with 10 pars.