Mustangs claim fourth straight title, Ito medalist

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - For the fourth consecutive tournament, a different Mustang had taken home medalist honors. This week it was Aoi Ito who won the first annual Mount Mercy Invite held at Ellis Park Golf Course Monday and Tuesday. Her two-round total of 155 led the Mount Mercy women's golf team to their fourth straight team win. 

Ito was hot from the start with back-to-back birdies on holes three and four to set the pace. Her first round score of 74 was the low of all 45 participants on either day. Despite an 81 (+9) in round two, Ito set the single season birdie record with two more birdies putting her at 28 for the season. The previous mark was 26 held by Casey Noble in 2019. This was Ito's first individual win of her career. 

All five of Mount Mercy's team ended in the top-10. Kirsten Miller (76-81=157) was second, Breanna Felderman (83-80=163) and Gracie Murray (83-80=163) tied for fourth, and Maddie Hornback (81-89=170) was ninth. 

The Mustangs (314-322=636) won by 47 strokes over Coe (344-339=683). Mount Mercy "B" (362-350=712) was third, Buena Vista (370-357=727) was fourth, and Iowa Wesleyan (367-370=737) fifth. 

Alison Robu led Mount Mercy's "B" squad with an eighth place finish after carding rounds of 86 and 83 for a total of 169. Grace Haas (91-84=173) was 14th, Jordyn Lang (92-90=182) was 17th, Dulce Gefke (93-93=186) tied for 19th, and Amelia Lueck (100-94=194) tied for 31st. Every Mustang on the "B" team either improved from day one to day two or stayed even, which only them and MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) achieved. 

Ellie Houston (94-97=191/29th) and Joselyn Hildebrand (102-98=200/tied 34th) also competed for the Mustangs as individuals. 

This was Mount Mercy's final tune up before the Heart of America Athletic Conference Championship next Monday and Tuesday, May 1-2 in Moravia. It will be a shotgun start beginning at 8:00 am at The Preserve on Rathbun Lake Golf Course.