IU East captures 2022 RSC Women's Golf Championship in dramatic finish
IU East captures 2022 RSC Women's Golf Championship in dramatic finish
FINAL RESULTS
FLORENCE, Ind. -- Indiana University East won its first River States Conference Women's Golf Championship in dramatic fashion on Tuesday from Belterra Golf Club. The Red Wolves won by two shots with a birdie on the final hole by top player Jo Wisecup to secure the crown.
It all came down to the final hole of the 54-hole championship. Wisecup came through with a birdie on No. 18, and IU East won by two shots over defending champion Midway (Ky.) University. IU East had a final, three-round total of 992, and Midway finished at 994.
IU East trailed by seven shots after Sunday's opening round. But the Red Wolves followed that up by shooting the best team scores on each of the final two days to engineer a comeback. IU East still trailed by four going into Tuesday's final round, but it put together final-round best 331 to win. The Red Wolves had shot the round of the tournament on Monday, a 323 that gave them a chance.
Midway took runner-up after getting its fifth consecutive conference title last season. The Eagles had five players in the Top 10 individually, but this year it was IU East's turn to get its first team championship. IU East will move on to the NAIA Women's Golf National Championship with the RSC's automatic team bid.
Indiana University Kokomo senior Brandi Jones qualified individually for the NAIA National Championship as the RSC medalist. She shot a 1-under par 71 in the final round Tuesday to take a 3-shot victory. With the win, she earned RSC Women's Golfer of the Year honors.
Jones' final-round score was by far the best round of the tournament, and it sprung her ahead of IU East's Wisecup, who had led the first two rounds. Jones opened with an 84 but followed that up with 79 and 71 as the only player to post two rounds in the 70s.
But Wisecup came through for the team win with the dramatic birdie on the last hole. She was not alone as an IU East player near the top of the leaderboard as Brooklyn Cromwell tied for third along with Midway's Emilie Hill. The IU East team win also had Olivia Sanders move into a tie for sixth with a final-round 79.
Midway had Catherine Kelly in fifth and Bree Russell in the tie for sixth as well as Jenna Lewis in ninth and Sydney Beard in a tie for 10th as other Top-10 finishers. Russell was named the RSC Women's Golf Newcomer of the Year as the highest finisher new to the conference.
Brescia (Ky.) University placed third in the team championship. The Bearcats held steady in third place all 54 holes. Brescia head coach Jason Cox was voted the RSC Women's Golf Coach of the Year by his peers. Meredith Myers led the way for Brescia placing in the tie for 10th place.
Oakland (Ind.) City University placed fourth, and IU Kokomo was sixth shots back in fifth out of the eight teams in the standings. Oakland City had Halee Exline place eighth individually.
From the leaderboard this week, the All-RSC Women's Golf First & Second Teams were established. That incluced the Top 10 players and ties with Jones leading the way on the All-RSC First Team along with Wisecup and Cromwell from IU East and Hill and Kelly from Midway.
Also named was the RSC Women's Golf Champions of Character Team with one player from each school nominated by their head coach for best displaying the NAIA's five character values of respect, responsibility, integrity, servant leadership and sportsmanship.
2022 ALL-RIVER STATES CONFERENCE WOMEN'S GOLF TEAMS & AWARDS
RSC Women's Golfer of the Year
RSC Women's Golf Coach of the Year
RSC Women's Golf Medalist
RSC Women's Golf Newcomer of the Year
ALL-RSC WOMEN'S GOLF FIRST TEAM
- Brandi Jones – IU Kokomo
- Jo Wisecup – IU East
- Brooklynn Cromwell – IU East
- Emilie Hill – Midway
- Catie Kelly – Midway
ALL-RSC WOMEN'S GOLF SECOND TEAM
- Bree Russell – Midway
- Olivia Sanders – IU East
- Haylee Exline – Oakland City
- Jenna Lewis – Midway
- Sydnee Beard – Midway
- Meredith Mayes – Brescia
RSC WOMEN'S GOLF CHAMPIONS OF CHARACTER TEAM
- Brescia – Madison Harding
- Carlow – Mia Rosporski
- IU East – Annie Gillock
- IU Kokomo – Brandi Jones
- Midway – Sydnee Beard
- Oakland City – Katie Alexander
- Rio Grande – Madison Duskey
- St. Mary-of-the-Woods – Bailey Thompson