By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
JOPLIN, Mo. – MIAA Women’s Golfer of the Year and Fort Hays State junior Morgan Brasser added another trophy to the shelf this week (April 24-26), placing third at the 2023 MIAA Championships to earn her first All-Tournament honor. As a team, the Tigers finished 11th at Eagle Creek Golf Club, a par-72, 5,800-yard layout.
Brasser opened the week with an 8-over 80 on Monday in a round that featured the only eagle of the day. She sat in a tie for 13th after the opening 18 holes, seven back of first place. The Andale, Kan. native turned things around and fired a 2-over 74 in round two, good for the second-best round of the day. She entered the final round in a tie for fifth place, still seven back of the leader.
The three-time All-MIAA selection then finished the week with the low round of the tournament, carding three birdies and three bogeys to turn in an even-par 72. The result vaulted her into third place at 10-over 226, two shots back of the ultimate champion.
Brasser played nine of the 54 holes in under par, tied for second-most in the field. She carded eight birdies to go along with her first-round eagle. She had finished inside the top 10 at each of the last two MIAA Championships, but this is her first top-five finish at the league meet.
Shauna Lee was also in a tie for 13th following the opening round, with the sophomore firing a round of 8-over 80 on Monday. She followed that up with rounds of 81 and 84 in rounds two and three, finishing in 27th place at 29-over 245.
Aliyah North turned in rounds of 87, 78 and 89 to finish at 38-over 254, good for 35th place, while Lexie Ridderfinished 51st (63-over 279) after rounds of 90, 92 and 92.
The Tigers were in ninth after round one and in eighth place following round two, but slipped two spots to finish the week in 10th place.
Central Missouri (72-over 936) held on down the stretch to take the team title, defeating Rogers State (75-over 939) by three shots. Northwest Missouri State’s Paige Hoffman took the individual title at 8-over 224 after rounds of 73, 74 and 77.
The Tigers will see if any of their players are selected for competition in the Central Super Regional when the full field is released on Monday (May 1).