Red Wolves Win Second Straight RSC Title
FLORENCE, Ind. - It's a repeat!!
Entering the final round down by three strokes, the Indiana University East women's golf team responded to win a second straight title at the River States Conference Championships on Tuesday, April 25.
"It was just a tough three days of golf," IU East coach Billy Mullin said. "I'm super proud of how our team persevered."
With the victory, the Red Wolves qualify for the 28th annual NAIA Women's National Championship at TPC Deere Run on May 23-26 in Silvis, Ill.
"This team is so deserving of making it nationals," said Mullin, who was named RSC Coach of the Year. "We have fought through injury, illness and we're still champions."
IU East had a team score of 343-343-331-1017 in the three-day affair at the Belterra Resort featuring eight squads.
Midway University was second with a 349-342-329-1020 followed by second-round leader IU Kokomo finished third at 351-332-344-1027.
Liv Sanders led the Red Wolves and she earned a spot on the All-RSC First Team
"Liv played sensational golf all three days," Mullin said. "Her story is really incredible."
Sanders posted a score of 78-85-81-244 to finish second on the individual leaderboard.
"I played well all three days to finish second individually with a hard field," Sanders said. "I am really proud of the team."
"It was a full team effort and we all just didn't stop grinding through all 54 holes," Sanders continued. "Something new we have started this year is with Dr. Bob Winters to sharpen our mental game, which helped us win the championship."
Brooklynn Cromwell was on the All-RSC Second Team list as she tied for 10th at 95-87-78-260.
"We did it again, back-to-back," Cromwell said. "I'm more than proud of this team and the underclassmen more than anything. Annie Gillock and I didn't have our best game the first two rounds and we didn't help very much, but they carried us like they are supposed to."
"The first two days were very rough for me, and I just couldn't get my swing on track and couldn't save shot anywhere but the green," Cromwell added. "It's hard to overcome two bad rounds like that as a senior on top of that, but I hit the range after the round and got things a little more under control and went into today with high hopes. I had some great up and downs and played the course the whole day. I left a handful of shots out there, but we won and that's all that matters right now. I look forward to another month with this team and playing at TPC at the end of May."
"I'd also like to say I'm proud of Annie," Cromwell went on to say. "I have enjoyed playing with her these last four years. We came in with a handful of us and it turned out to be just us in the end. We have been through so many opportunities and situations and took the best out of all of it. She is an academic weapon and has high hopes for her future in whatever she does. She didn't play her best golf today, but she scored like she needed to, and it mattered. Lifelong friends, but I will miss her."
Jalyn Bruns was 12th at 86-88-87-261. IU East's RSC Champions of Character winner Katie Craig finished 19th for the Red Wolves with an 85-83-98-266.
"Jalyn and Katie's play was the key to us winning this tournament," Mullin said.
Gillock was 27th at 94-98-85-277.
"I'm so proud of Brooklynn and Annie with how they bounced back and played in the final round," Mullin said.
RSC Golfer of the Year Brandi Jones of IU Kokomo also earned at ticket to nationals as the individual medalist for the second year in a row with an 83-78-79-240.