SMITHVILLE, Mo. – The Southwest Minnesota State University women’s golf improved its team score for the second straight day and used its strong play to secure a fourth place finish at the 12-team Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Championships held at Paradise Pointe-Outlaw Course.

SMSU’s Ashley Bixby carded the best round of the day in the entire field with an even-par 72 and finished the 59-player field in a tie for seventh place overall with a 19-over 235 (85-78-72).

SMSU finished the 54-hole tournament with a 117-over-par score of 981, finishing four shots behind third place Sioux Falls and one shot ahead of fifth place Minot State.

Augustana won the team championship for the ninth straight year with a 62-over 926, while Minnesota State finished in second place with an 80-over 944.

Emily Israelson captured medalist honors with a 12-over 228, which included rounds of 80, 72 and 76.

Bixby finished her round on Sunday with three birdies and 12 pars. She shot one-under in the first nine holes before a bogy on No. 10 pushed her back to even-par. She closed the round with eight straight pars to secure her best 18-hole score in her career.

Hannah Kohls also had a solid round on Sunday with a 6-over 78 and finished in 15th place overall at 27-over (87-78-78-243). Lauren Kerr placed 31st with a score of 38-over 254 (83-86-85), Hallie Will scored a 9-over 81 today and finished tied for 34th with a 42-over 258 (88-89-81), while Christina Collins finished tied for 38th with a 47-over 263 (96-80-87).

Bixby will now await word on a possible invitation to the NCAA Central Region Tournament to be held in early May. The announcement will be made on April 30.

Content courtesy

of SMSU Athletic

Communications