BACK TO BACK: IU East repeats as RSC Women's Golf Champions

4/25/2023 12:00:00 AM

FLORENCE, Ind. -- Indiana University East made it back to back titles winning the 2023 River States Conference Women's Golf Championship held Sunday through Tuesday at the Belterra Golf Course in Florence, Ind. The Red Wolves were first place of eight teams competing over 54 holes and three days.

IU East had the first-round lead opening up with a 343 on Sunday. The Red Wolves dipped back to second place with Indiana University Kokomo charging into the top spot after Monday's second round. But IU East, which shot another 343 in round two, came through with a score of 331 in the final round Tuesday to beat out runner-up Midway (Ky.) Univrsity by three strokes in the final leaderboard.

IU East advances to the NAIA Women's Golf National Championship with the RSC's automatic qualification. The national tournament will be held May 23-26 at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Ill.

Midway (Ky.), which was in third place after each of the first two rounds, shot the best score of the tournament with a 329 over the final 18 holes. The late charge was not enough for the Eagles, who took runner-up for the second year in a row.

IU Kokomo finished in third place with a finishing score of 344, which was 10 off the lead after 54 holes. Brescia (Ky.) University, which was in second place after the first round, placed fourth with a 341 on the last day.

St. Mary-of-the-Woods (Ind.) (fifth), Oakland City (Ind.) (sixth), Point Park (Pa.) (seventh) and Rio Grande (Ohio) (eighth) rounded out the field of eight teams.

Brandi Jones from IU Kokomo took RSC medalist honors as the individual conference champion. She advances to NAIA nationals as an individual qualifier. She was the only golfer to shoot two rounds in the 70s this week. She opened up with an 83 and then finished 78-79 to win by four shots.

Olivia Sanders from IU East placed second. She was the first-round leader with an opening 78. After an 85 in the middle round, she had an 81 to end. Midway's Payton Schechter shot 83-83-80 for third place.

IU East had three players in the top 12 places and ties to come through with the team win. That included Brooklynn Cromwell in a tie for 10th with a 78 in the final round and Jalyn Burns in 12th place.

Also named were the All-RSC Women's Golf First & Second Teams with six on the All-RSC First Team and five on the All-RSC Second Team. Jones took home another honor as the RSC Women's Golfer of the Year. Brooke Bussing from St. Mary-of-the-Woods (Ind.) was named RSC Women's Golf Newcomer of the Year as the fourth overall finisher this wek.

IU East head coach Billy Mullin was named RSC Women's Golf Coach of the Year after leading the Red Wolves to their second title in a row.

Also named as the RSC Women's Golf Champions of Character Team, which included one nominee from each school who best represents the NAIA's five character values of respect, responsibility, integrity, servant leadership and sportsmanship.

The RSC Women's Golf Scholar-Athlete Team was named with all team members who have a 3.25 GPA or higher with at least two semesters at their current institution named. Midway led that category with seven team members named.

RSC WOMEN'S GOLF TEAMS & AWARDS

RSC Women's Golfer of the Year -- Brandi Jones, IU Kokomo
RSC Women's Golf Medalist -- Brandi Jones, IU Kokomo
RSC Women's Golf Newcomer of the Year -- Brooke Bussing, St. Mary-of-the-Woods (Ind.)
RSC Women's Golf Coach of the Year -- Billy Mullin, IU East

ALL-RSC WOMEN'S GOLF FIRST TEAM

Brandi Jones – IU Kokomo
Liv Sanders – IU East
Payton Schechter – Midway
Brooklee Bussing – Saint Mary of the Woods
Sydnee Beard – Midway
Sarah Williams – IU Kokomo

ALL-RSC WOMEN'S GOLF SECOND TEAM

Meredith Mayes – Brescia
Tanisha Downer – Oakland City
Laurel Hotchkiss – Brescia
Brooklynn Cromwell – IU East
Madison Harding – Brescia

RSC WOMEN'S GOLF CHAMPIONS OF CHARACTER TEAM

Brescia – Laurel Hotchkiss
IU East – Katie Craig
IU Kokomo – Annastasia Hutchings
Midway – Emilie Hill
Oakland City – Aven Davis
Point Park – Olivia Stawovy
Rio Grande – Bailey Meadows
St. Mary-of-the-Woods – Erin Williams

RSC WOMEN'S GOLF SCHOLAR-ATHLETE TEAM

Kennedy Bowen – Alice Lloyd
Laurel Hotchkiss – Brescia
Alexa Vincent – Carlow
Emilee Miller – Carlow
Emma Shuttleworth – Carlow
Mia Rosporski – Carlow
Annie Gillock – IU East
Brooklynn Cromwell – IU East
Katie Craig – IU East
Brandi Jones – IU Kokomo
Gracie Tucker – IU Kokomo
Bree Russell – Midway
Brookelyn Hopkins – Midway
Catie Kelly – Midway
Emilie Hill – Midway
Haley Case – Midway
Lauren Nolty – Midway
Sydnee Beard – Midway
Dixie Short – Oakland City
Hallie Hinton – Oakland City
Darian Lees – Point Park
Olivia Stawovy – Point Park
Ashtyn White – Saint Mary of the Woods
Bailey Mittal – Saint Mary of the Woods
Bailey Thompson – Saint Mary of the Woods
Erin Williams – Saint Mary of the Woods
Sophia Boyll – Saint Mary of the Woods
Lillian Rees – Rio Grande
Bailey Meadows – Rio Grande