Photo by Alicia Korpi, Ignite the Light Photography
Northwestern Wins UMAC Women’s Golf Championship; Eagles’ Eckman Earns Medalist Honors
BECKER, Minn. – University of Northwestern won the 2023 UMAC Women’s Golf Championship on Saturday at the Pebble Creek Gold Club. The Eagles shot a championship-best round of 328 (+40) to close out the three-day competition with a team score of 1014 (+150), winning the title by 97 strokes.
Morgan Eckman earned the medalist honors after shooting a championship-best 76 (+4) on the final day, bringing her three-round score to 245 (+29) to move up from third place up to first overall. Paige Johnson followed Eckman by just two strokes in the overall leaderboard, finishing the championship with a 247 (+31) to place second overall. Kirsten Darling shot an 85 (+15) on the final day to move into the top-five overall with a 262 (+46). Kelly Van Den Bussche had her best round of the tournament on Saturday, shooting an 83 (+11) to move up from tenth place into a two-place tie for sixth overall with a 265 (+49). Mattie Krause placed ninth overall with a 273 (+57) as all five Northwestern golfers finished in the top ten overall at the championship.
Crown College placed second at the championship, shooting 1111 (+247) as a team. Kendall Clark led the way for the Polars, finishing third overall after shooting a 254 (+38) in the three rounds. Shelby Cash followed right behind Clark, shooting an 85 (+13) to move up to fourth overall. Lexi Thomas placed 12
th overall for Crown with a three-day score of 284 (+68). Ashley Larson had the fourth score for the Polars as she shot 312 (+96) to place 18
th overall at the championship.
UW-Superior took third place at the championship with a score of 1142 (+278). The Yellowjackets were led by Ashton Parnell, who finished the three-day event with 265 (+49) to tie for sixth place overall. Olivia Weyenberg followed Parnell for UWS, finishing 11
th overall as she shot 282 (+66).
Northland finished fourth as a team as Maddy Bloedel led the Lumberjills with a score of 269 (+53) to place eighth overall. Minnesota Morris placed fifth as a team, with Hannah Selig scoring a top-ten overal finish with a 282 (+66). Martin Luther took sixth as a team with Chloe Berg leading the Knights with a 305 (+89) to place 17
th. Bethany Lutheran followed in seventh place with Olivia Krause leading the way for the Knights with a 332 (+116) to place 26
th. North Central finished in eighth as a team while Victoria Sanders led the way for the Rams, shooting 290 (+74).
FINAL STANDINGS
| Place |
Team |
Day 1 |
Day 2 |
Day 3 |
Total |
| 1. |
Northwestern |
341 (+53) |
345 (+57) |
328 (+40) |
1014 (+150) |
| 2. |
Crown |
362 (+74) |
378 (+90) |
371 (+83) |
1111 (+247) |
| 3. |
UW-Superior |
373 (+85) |
387 (+99) |
382 (+94) |
1142 (+278) |
| 4. |
Northland |
404 (+116) |
415 (+127) |
417 (+129) |
1236 (+372) |
| 5. |
Minnesota Morris |
408 (+120) |
408 (+120) |
422 (+134) |
1238 (+374) |
| 6. |
Martin Luther |
459 (+171) |
444 (+156) |
442 (+154) |
1345 (+481) |
| 7. |
Bethany Lutheran |
467 (+179) |
457 (+169) |
471 (+183) |
1391 (+527) |
| 8. |
North Central |
465 (+177) |
453 (+165) |
472 (+184) |
1394 (+530) |
FINAL PLAYER LEADERBOARD – TOP TEN
| Place |
Player |
Team |
First Round |
Second Round |
Third Round |
Final Score |
| 1. |
Morgan Eckman |
Northwestern |
84 |
85 |
76 |
245 (+29) |
| 2. |
Paige Johnson |
Northwestern |
79 |
84 |
84 |
247 (+31) |
| 3. |
Kendall Clark |
Crown |
80 |
86 |
88 |
254 (+38) |
| 4. |
Shelby Cash |
Crown |
90 |
86 |
85 |
261 (+45) |
| 5. |
Kirsten Darling |
Northwestern |
93 |
84 |
85 |
262 (+46) |
| T6. |
Ashton Parnell |
UW-Superior |
89 |
86 |
90 |
265 (+49) |
| T6. |
Kelly Van Den Bussche |
Northwestern |
90 |
92 |
83 |
265 (+49) |
| 8. |
Maddy Bloedel |
Northland |
89 |
92 |
88 |
269 (+53) |
| 9. |
Mattie Krause |
Northwestern |
88 |
93 |
92 |
273 (+57) |
| 10. |
Hannah Selig |
Minnesota Morris |
89 |
92 |
94 |
275 (+59) |