MORTON, MINN. – With Lexi Hanson and Kyleigh Moran earning all-tourney honors, the University of Sioux Falls Women's Golf Team recorded a program-best second place in the team standings as the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Women's Golf Championships concluded Sunday (April 25) at Dacotah Ridge.

USF finished at 96-over par, 960 (310-320-330), for second place and finished five shots behind Augustana which was 91-over par 955 (296-329-330). Both USF and Augustana carded rounds of 330 on the final day, which was cold, and windy.

In earning her first all-tourney nod, Hanson finished a career and program-best second among individuals with a three-round total of 18-over par 234 (78-79-77). Hanson, whose previous high was ninth in 2018, finished just one shot out of the lead as MacKayla Olsen of Upper Iowa was the medalist at 18-over par 234 (78-79-77). She is the second-ever USF golfer (Tavia Rutherford, three times, 2013-15) with two top-10 finishes.

 

USF had three golfers place in the top-10 for the first time in school history. In fact, all five team members placed in the top 21, which is also a first for the program. In earning her first-ever NSIC All-Tourney honor, Kyleigh Moran had her highest placing in her career by tying for fifth at 24 over par 240 (76-77-87).

 Sophomore Maggie Veenendall was tied for 10^th at 27-over par 243 (81-82-80). Senior Sydney Hubbard was tied for 14^th at 31-over par 247 (83-81-83). Junior Marisa Weeks was tied for 21^st at 35-over par 251 (78-85-88).

Hanson, who leads the league in scoring average (77.18), finished the tournament with a final round total of 80 (37-43), which included birdies on holes six and 13 and eight pars. She opened at three-over par 75 (39-36) and was fourth after round one. She had eight pars and birdies on holes three, four, eight and 14. Hanson, a two-time All-Region and All-NSIC performer from Chanhassen, Minn., had a second round total of 80 (38-42), which included 11 pars. For the tournament she had 27 pars and six birdies.
 
Moran, who was tied for the lead after two rounds, recorded her two best rounds of her career with a 76 (38-38) in the first round and 77 (41-36) on day two and finished at 87 (42-45). As a result, she had the third best finish ever by a USF player (Tavia Rutherford, 4^th, 2015, Lexi Hanson, 2nd, 2021). In the opening round, Moran, a senior from Vermillion, S.D., carded a four-over par 76 (38-38), which placed her in a tie for fifth overall. In that round, she had 11 pars and secured birdies on holes 11 and 15. In round two, she was five-over par with a 77 (41-36). She had birdies on holes three, seven and 14 and added nine pars. Today, she had six pars and finished with 26 pars and five total birdies.

Veenendall, who earlier this spring was an NSIC Golfer of the Week, concluded her first-ever NSIC tourney with a top-10 finish as she played consistent with her 243 including rounds of 81 (42-39), 82 (40-42) and 80 (41-39). In her opening round she had 12 pars and added 10 in the second round with eight on the final day for 30 in the tournament. She also had her only two birdies on the final day on holes seven and 13.

Senior Sydney Hubbard moved five spots on the final day as she finished tied for a career-best 14th at 247. On the final day she shot an 83 (38-45) and had seven pars along with a birdies on hole 17. She opened the tournament with an 83 (42-41) with eight pars. On day two, she carded an 81 (41-40) with seven pars and a birdies on hole seven. As a result she shot 22 pars with two birdies  

Weeks finished at 251 with a final round of 88 (42-46) as she placed tied for 21^st in her first ever NSIC Tournament. She opened the tourney with a six-over par round of 78 (36-42) as she had birdies on holes 14 and 17 and a total of nine pars. In her second round of 85 (39-46), she had 10 pars. In the final round she had a birdie on hole 13 with eight pars. She finished with three birdies and 27 pars.