The Peacock women's golf team opened up their fall season in Blue Springs, Mo. on Tuesday and Wednesday competing in the Central Region Fall Preview. The tournament was hosted by Southwestern Oklahoma State University at the Adams Pointe Golf Club. Upper Iowa finished in 15th place in the 19-team field after rounds of 322 on Tuesday and 333 on Wednesday.
Henderson State University won the tournament title with rounds of 300 and 295 to hold off Arkansas Tech University, who turned in rounds of 303 and 300. Henderson State boasted the top two individuals in the field with Gracen Blount winning medalist honors thanks to her minus-three 141 (71-70) and Allie Bianchi was second with an even-par 144 (75-69). The University of Nebraska at Kearney and Northeastern State University tied for third with identical totals of 613 through the 36 holes.
Upper Iowa's 322 on day one put them in 13th place overall. The team was led by
MacKayla Olsen, who turned in a 76 for her first 18 holes.
Jaden Schweinefus scored an 81, while
MacKenzie Olsen and
Kaitlyn MacCharles followed closely behind with an 82 and 83, respectively.
Brooke Knutson rounded out the day one fivesome with a score of 89.
MacKenzie Olsen improved by two strokes in round two and carded the team-low with an 80 on Wednesday. Mackayla Olsen came back to the clubhouse with an 82, while Knutson marked the best improvement between rounds with an 83 on day two. Schweinefus and MacCharles both signed off on 88s for their second round.
MacKayla Olsen tied for 31st with her 158 and
MacKenzie Olsen tied for 58th with her 162. Schweinefus tied for 76th (169), while MacCharles (171) and Knutson (172) tied for 82nd and 85th, respectively.
Upper Iowa knocked in 81 pars, while grabbing nine birdies. The Olsen sisters combined for 39 pars to lead the Peacocks with MacKenzie holding a slight 20-19 edge, while the sisters and Schweinefus combined for eight of the team's nine birdies. MacKayla and Schweinefus each had three birdies.
The Peacocks will have three weeks to prepare for their next tournament. Upper Iowa will compete in Lake City, Minn. at an event hosted by Winona State University on Sept. 27-28.
