Mustangs Place Second on Opening Day of Kohawk Classic

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - The Mount Mercy women's golf team started their Heart of America title defense at the Kohawk Classic to open the 2024 campaign, ending day one in second place overall as the sole NAIA team in an entirely NCAA DIII field.

Kirsten Miller ended her round in second place overall, firing an even par round of 72. Miller started the front nine with a pair of pars, and carded her first birdie of the round on the par-three third. Following a par at the fourth, Miller once again carded a birdie on a par-three, this time on the fifth hole. After a par on the sixth, Miller recorded a pair of bogeys followed with her third birdie of the front nine to end her opening half at one under. Miller would fire off eight pars on her final nine holes, shooting one-over on the back to end her round at even par. 

Gracie Murray came in second on the squad, and 12th overall, carding a first round score of four over. Murray recorded a par on each of her first four holes, totaling seven pars on the front nine. Murray would card a birdie on the par-four 13th, and rounded out her round with three pars out of her final four holes.

Carli Irvine ended in third on the squad, mimicking Murray's opening four holes. Irvine would birdie the par-three fifth, as that was the lowest scoring hole for the Mustangs in the opening round, as two competitors would birdie the hole. Irvine woud also card a pair of birdies on the back nine, ending her day at six-over.

The fourth Mustang was Lauren McPhillips-Newcomb, who ended in 18th overall on the opening day, firing a seven-over 79. McPhillips-Newcomb fired off seven pars on her opening nine, while also carding five pars on the back nine to end her round. The final Mustang was Grace Haas, ending her round in 41st, finishing with an 11-over 83. Haas would card three pars on the front, while recording seven on the back.

The Mustangs will wrap up the Kohawk Classic tomorrow at Pheasant Ridge in Cedar Falls.