Finally.
After waiting a long time for rain to end, the Indiana University women's golf team made it to the Lincoln Park West Golf Course for the opening NAIA Women's Golf National Championship on May 25.
"I'm really proud of our team," IU East coach Billy Mullin said of his squad's first appearance in the national tournament. "We had a great attitude going through all the delays."
Jo Wisecup, Annie Gillock and Liv Sanders each posted rounds of 80 to lead the Red Wolves. Brooklynn Cromwell carded an 83, while Katie Craig finished with a 92.
"Annie, Jo and Liv all played really well," Mullin said. "Brooklynn battled back from a bad start to post a competitive number. We had a lot of great fight today from the Red Wolves. We are excited for tomorrow."
Only 15 of the 30 teams completed the first round on Wednesday with the Red Wolves being one of the squads playing 18 holes as IU East had a score of 323.
"I'm proud of how I started off today," Gillock said. "My short game ended up being a lifesaver today. I had every bit of 10 up and downs today. But all in all, I'm so proud of the team and how everyone played especially with it being our first national appearance together."
IU East and the other 14 teams started the day at 12:30 p.m. (IU East time). The remaining teams got underway at 6:15 p.m. Those teams will finish the first round on Thursday morning and then play the second round.
The Red Wolves will likely be on the course for the second round at 6 p.m. IU East is expected to complete the second round on Friday morning. The team and individual cuts will be determined Friday and those remaining will finish the 54-hole event later in the day.
"The setup of how the tournament is now being ran is a little weird to say the least," Gillock said. "But the NAIA committee has done a great job handling everything given the weather conditions. Right now, we are just sitting back, being patient, and controlling what we can control. The scores come in when the scores come in and they fall where they fall."
Wisecup is participating in her second national tournament, after playing last year as an individual.
"I got off to a good start with only being two over for the front side, but had a hard time closing the deal," Wisecup said. "I had a hard time getting the ball in the fairway, but overall I'm very proud how the team played today given all the rain for the last three days."
"For me, it was a rough out there day to say the least, but I somehow made out with a good score," Wisecup added. "I was having a hard time getting off the tee, but I somehow managed to pick it up with my short game."
Sanders was pleased with the scores for the Red Wolves, who qualified for nationals by winning the River States Conference Championship in April.
"I played well considering the conditions everyone was given," Sanders said. "The course wasn't playing too hard, but the weather made it a long round."
"The team put up a good score for the conditions," Sanders continued. "Everyone was just excited to play some golf after a few days of rain."
Truett McConnell University from Georgia had the top team score of those that finished 18 holes with a 298. MinJi Kang of Truett McConnell led the field individually with a 69.
"There is still a lot of golf left to play," Wisecup said. "I believe in our team and we are not going to go down without a fight."
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