No. 15 Trojans Dominate in Kentucky
SHEPHERDSVILLE, Ky. – The 15th-ranked Taylor women's golf team fired a final round team score of 298 to pull away for a convincing victory at the Heritage Hill Fall Collegiate.
Senior All-American Nicole Jung provided the highlight of the day on her final hole of the tournament. Jung faced a decision on the short par-4 18th hole, she could attempt to drive the green which meant carrying the pond guarding the putting surface, a carry of nearly 250 yards, or play a safer shot by laying up short of the water.
The two-time Crossroads League Player of the Year slid the headcover off her Callaway driver and took dead aim, smashing a towering baby draw over the pond and onto the green nearly 260 yards away. The ball cleared the water by roughly five yards and rolled to 12 feet from the hole. The Santa Cruz, Bolivia native coolly rolled in the eagle putt, punctuating the moment with a fist pump to cap a final round score of 76.
Jung's eagle at the last proved pivotal as the senior finished tied atop the individual standings with a two-day total of 145. The victory was Jung's 15th of her stellar career and the first of this season that has seen the senior earn four runner-up finishes.
Jung may have laid claim to the shot of the day but the round of the day belonged to TU sophomore Elizabeth Kemper. Kemper played remarkably steady golf, hitting 12 of 13 fairways and 14 of 18 greens en route to a 1-under par 71. The Fairland, Indiana native closed her round in exciting fashion, playing her last seven holes in 4-under par, including birdies on each of her last three holes. Kemper's stellar final round, the low round of the day in the field, propelled the sophomore to a third place finish with a two-day total of 149 (78-71).
The Trojans also got strong play from freshmen Sabrina Langerak, Ellie Karst, and Ellie Beavins. Langerak was a ball-striking machine during the final round as the freshman hit 12 of 13 fairways and 14 greens in regulation on her way to a 3-over par 75 that included 15 pars and three bogeys. Langerak claimed fifth place overall with a two-day total of 152 (77-75).
Karst added a 76 during the final round to finish in a tie for seventh place with a two-round total of 154 (78-76). Beavins added a tie for 15th place at 160 with back-to-back rounds of 80.
Junior Kailey Behrens made four birdies during the second round en route to an 80 while freshman Alyssa Schmidt added an 89 and sophomore Kirsten Schrock tallied a 91.
The Trojans dominated the team standings, pulling away for a 16-shot victory over Cumberlands (KY). The Trojans tallied a two-day total of 602 (304-298) followed by Cumberlands at 618 (316-302). No. 22 Northwestern Ohio finished in third place at 624 (314-310).
The tournament marked the end of the fall portion of the Trojans' 2021-2022 season. TU collected four victories in six starts during the fall and will return to action in the spring as the Trojans seek a fifth consecutive Crossroads League title.
