Posted: May 02, 2023

Mustangs end season third at Heart Championships, three standouts earn honors

MORAVIA, Iowa - In perhaps the worst conditions of the season, the Mount Mercy women's golf team battled at the three-round Heart of America Athletic Championships on Monday and Tuesday held at The Preserve on Rathbun Lake Golf Course. The Mustangs finished third out of 11, with a team score of 1,001.

After the first 18, Mount Mercy (333) was just three strokes behind the leader and eventual winner, William Penn (330), thanks to an 81 from Gracie Murray and an 82 from Kaitlin Hotchkiss. It is not often that the Mustangs play 36 holes in one day, but that is how the Heart Championships are set up. Despite Kirsten Miller carding an 81 coupled with an 83 from Breanna Felderman in round two, Mount Mercy shot 333 again, but the Statesmen shot 324 to increase their lead.

Mount Mercy solidified third place after shooting 335 in the final round. William Penn (330-324-328=982) was the team champion for the second year in a row. Grand View (330-327-333=990) was second, Mount Mercy was third, Central Methodist (Mo.) (337-347-324=1,008) was fourth, and Park (Mo.) (338-351-329=1,018) was fifth.

Felderman (84-83-81=248) was the lone Mustang to improve her score with each round, finishing in 10th place. Miller (86-81-83=250) was 13th, Murray (81-85-86=252) was 15th, Hotchkiss (82-88-85=255) tied for 18th, and Aoi Ito (89-84-88=261) tied for 24th.

Felderman placed in the top-10 of every event this year, including four top-five finishes. Her average score of 79.78 was a team best and also a new career record in the history of Mount Mercy. Miller joined Felderman by placing in the top-10 in every tournament except for this one with an average score of 81.96. Ito had a strong end to the season with three consecutive finishes of third or higher. She broke the single-season record for birdies with an average score of 82.74. Felderman, Miller, and Ito each medalled once this Spring.

2023 Heart Women's Golf Awards:

Player of the Year: Mia Tovkach (Baker)

Newcomer of the Year: Gabrianna Franco (William Penn)

Coach of the Year: Elise Warne (William Penn)

All-Conference Team:

Kate Rahfeldt (Grand View)

Carlee Frayne (William Penn)

Mechelle Vermillion (Central Methodist)

Courtney Jackson (William Penn)

Aoi Ito (Mount Mercy)

Kirsten Miller (Mount Mercy)

Ashley White (Evangel)