NIACC moves into third at regional tournament

ANKENY - The NIACC women's golf team moved into third place after day three Friday at the NJCAA Region XI tournament at Otter Creek Golf Course.

NIACC shot a 353 on Friday and trails Iowa Western and Iowa Lakes with a three-round total of 366-361-353 - 1,080.

Iowa Western leads the tournament heading into Saturday's final 18 holes with a 326-321-327 - 974 and Iowa Lakes is in second with a 342-322-354 - 1,018.

"They (the Lady Trojans) came to play (Friday)," NIACC coach Chris Frenz said. "We shot one of our best rounds of the season.

"The front nine on this course is tough, especially when it's windy like (Friday). But boy they played well on the back nine."

On Friday, sophomore Sydney Fullerton led the Lady Trojans with an 87. Also for NIACC, Jordyn Barragy and Morgan Luecht shot a pair of 88s and Ashley Alert shot a 90.

Barragy leads NIACC with a three-round total of 91-86-88 265. Luecht has a three-round total of 92-87-88 - 267, Fullerton is at 89-93-87 - 269 and Alert is at 94-95-90 - 279.

Barragy is in 14th place overall and in ninth place without the Iowa Western golfers included. Luecht is in 15th place and 10th without the Iowa Western golfers in the mix.

The top team and top 10 individuals not on the winning team qualify for the NJCAA Division I national tournament May 13-16 in Daytona Beach, Fla.

"Jordyn and Morgan continued their solid play," Frenz said, "and have put themselves in position to make it to the national tournament.

"Sydney played well (Friday) and is two shots off the cut line. Ashley did a nice job (Friday) hanging in there but finds herself 11 shots off the cut line."

Fullerton is in 17th place overall and is in 12th without the Iowa Western golfers in the mix. Alert is in 21st place and 16th without the Reiver golfers.

Frenz said he was pleased with his entire team on Friday.

"I'm really proud of the team because we've positioned ourselves in third place," the veteran coach said. "WE had the second-best team score (Friday)."

The final round of the 72-hole tournament is set for Saturday at Otter Creek Golf Course.

"Depending on weather (Saturday), the tournament could be called after 54 holes but at the moment round four is scheduled to beging at 10 a.m."