By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
LARCHWOOD, Iowa – Morgan Brasser topped a field of 66 golfers to win the Augustana Fall Regional Preview at The Falls at Grand Falls Casino and Golf Resort. Brasser was tied for the tournament lead after the first round and then separated from the rest of the field on day two for a three-stroke win. The Tigers as a team finished sixth among the 11 teams competing in the tournament. It was Brasser’s second individual tournament title in her collegiate career after winning the Holiday Inn Express Spring Regional Preview in St. Joseph, Mo. last spring.
Brasser found herself in the same position as she was two weeks ago through the first round of a tournament, holding the lead. Brasser and Allison Comer of Nebraska-Kearney both shot even par (72) in the opening round, both two shots clear of Paige Hoffman from Northwest Missouri State. This time Brasser pulled away from the field by shooting 1-over on her first nine of day two while the rest of the field fell further back. Comer of UNK struggled through the first nine on day two at 6-over par, while Hoffman was three over through her first nine and fell four strokes behind Brasser.
A handful of Augustana golfers lurked four to five shots behind Brasser at the turn, but she had plenty of cushion to hold them off for a three-stroke win at 4-over par overall on the par-72 layout. Brasser finished with a 148 total for the tournament. Augustana went on to claim the team title with four golfers within the top 10. Lauren Tims was the closest to Brasser of that group with a second-place finish at 7-over par overall. Lanie Veenendall (+8), Masy Mock (+9), and Molly Stevens (+9) were all among that cluster of Vikings. Comer of UNK tied Veenendall for third individually, also at 8-over par.
Brasser made her presence known early by carding the tournament’s only eagle on her second hole of play, a 465-yard par 5. That had her at 2-under right out of the gates and she went on to finish her first nine of the tournament 1-under par. Three bogeys followed by a mixture of four pars and two birdies had Brasser even par through 18 holes. She navigated the course at even par through her first 11 holes on day two with a pair of birdies, seven pars, and two bogeys. Her sizable lead came in handy during the final seven holes, eventually finishing at 4-over par. Brasser topped the field in scoring on par 5s at 4-under par.
Shauna Lee and Aliyah North tied for 33rd in the individual standings. After an 86 on the first day, Lee improved six strokes to an 80 in the second round. She was strong over her final nine holes of the tournament, going even par during that stretch with her only birdie of the tournament coupled with seven pars and a bogey. North also had one birdie in the tournament, shooting rounds of 81 and 85.
Kerrigan Rudolph tied for 41st with rounds of 83 and 86. She had 16 pars for the tournament. Lexie Ridder tied for 53rd with two rounds of 88. She had two birdies for the tournament.
Augustana topped the team standings with a 609 and Nebraska-Kearney was 10 strokes back at 619. Minnesota State and Wayne State (Neb.) tied for third at 644. FHSU was just five strokes back of third place at 649.
The FHSU women return to action in a week at the Midwest Classic, hosted by Northwest Missouri State University at Mozingo Lake Golf Course in Maryville, Mo. (Oct. 17-18).