NIACC's Lentz in 7th after day one at regionals

ANKENY - NIACC sophomore Savannah Lentz shot an 84 on the opening day of the NJCAA Region XI women's golf tournament Friday at Otter Creek Golf Course and sits in seventh place heading into Saturday's final round.

NIACC is in fourth place in the team standings with a 356. Iowa Western leads the tournament with a 308.

Iowa Western's Sena Ersay is the individual leader with a 71 and Iowa Central's Julie Laisney sits in second place with a 74.

The winning team and the next 10 individuals not on the winning team qualify for the NJCAA national tournament May 16-19 at the LPGA International course in Daytona Beach, Fla.

The Lady Trojans have qualified at least one golfer for the national tournament in Chris Frenz' first nine years as coach. Lentz tied for eighth at last year's regional tournament with a 81-85 - 166 to earn a trip to the national meet.

Also for the Lady Trojans on Friday, freshman Lyndie Phillips and sophomore Bailey Walter are tied for 14th place with a pair of 90s. Carlie Eckenrod rounded out the scoring for the Lady Trojans with a 92 and sits in 19th place.

DMACC's Rachael Walljasper and Iowa Central's Payton Christy also shot 90s on Friday and are tied with Phillps and Walter for 14th place.

Lentz' round of 84 on Friday is tied for the 8th best round at the regional tournament since Frenz became the school's golf coach in 2007. The 84 by Lentz was her best round of the 2016 spring season and her best round since shooting an 82 on Sept. 20, 2015 at the Iowa Lakes Invitational.

Team standings - Iowa Western 308, DMACC 341, Iowa Central 344, NIACC 456.

NIACC - Savannah Lentz 84, Lyndie Phillips 90, Bailey Walter 80, Carlie Eckenrod 92, Alyssa Purman 99.