NIACC women shoot fall season best 340

ANKENY - The NIACC women's golf team recorded its best round of its fall season Monday with a 340 during day one of the Grand View Viking Invitational at Otter Creek Golf Course.

Sophomores Alyssa Alert and Kirsten Boerjan led the Trojans with the best rounds of their careers. Alert shot a 76, which is the second best 18-hole round in the Chris Frenz era and Boerjan shot a 78, which is tied for the third best round in the Frenz era.

"Alyssa Alert and Kirsten Boerjan were dialed in (Monday), which is awesome to see," NIACC coach Chris Frenz said. "They've been so close to breaking through this fall and really putting in a lot of effort on their game.

"It's great to see it pay off. Alyssa had everything going (Monday), bombing her driver, iron game was spot on and the putter was consistent. Kirsten was the same way. When they both hit their drivers well, the sky is the limit for them because it sets them up in great position to attack the pin."

The best round of the Frenz era, which started in 2007, is a 73 by Mikayla Smith at the Iowa Central Invitational on April 16, 2012.

Alert's previous best round as a NIACC golfer was 83 twice. Boerjan's previous best round was an 80 at the NIACC Fall Invitational on Sept. 8.

Also for NIACC on Monday, Sophie Lunning shot a fall-season best 91 and Karissa Hoon shot a career-best 95.

"I was really proud of how Sophie played on the back 9," Frenz said, "and Karissa played really well overall. I know the score is what it is, but I feel her score is not indicative of how well she struck the ball (Monday)."

Host Grand View leads after the first day of the tournament with a 312. Iowa Lakes is in second with a 335 and NIACC is in third with its fall season-best 340.

NIACC's previous best round this fall was a 356 at the NIACC Fall Invitational in September.

Day two of the Grand View Viking Invitational is set for Tuesday.

"It was perfect weather (Monday)," Frenz said. "(Tuesday) the winds are expected to come up, so we'll need to change our approach a little and attach the course a bit differently. We're looking forward to the challenge."

First round team standings - Grand View University 312, Iowa Lakes 335, NIACC 340, DMACC 342, Iowa Central 371.