Chargers finish 13th at nationals, set multiple school marks

BOONE, Iowa — The Sandburg women's golf team ended its season on a high note.

The Chargers finished 13th and set several school marks as they closed their season Friday at the inaugural NJCAA Division II Women's Golf Championship at Cedar Pointe.

Making their third appearance at a national tournament, the Chargers shot a final-round 359 for their lowest single round ever at nationals, and Sandburg's 72-hole total of 1,453 also was a school best. Previously, the program's best score was 362 in the final round of the 2019 tournament. Sandburg's best 72-hole total before this week was 1,500 in 2023.

Additionally, sophomore Ava Hackman shot a final-round 82, which was the best round ever by a Charger at nationals. Hackman finished the tournament tied for 25th, the highest finish ever by a Sandburg player.

Hackman opened the week with a 14-over-par 86, then rattled off scores of 85, 85 and 82 for a total of 338. The sophomore from Oregon blew away the previous school bests for highest finish (T-56 by Jaeden Workman in 2019) and lowest 72-hole score (366 in 2023 by Ellie Wasson) at a national tournament.

Hackman's 10-over Friday was the second time this week a Chargers golfer carded a school-record round at nationals. Lauren Minkel shot a first-round 83 on Tuesday, breaking the previous mark of 87 set by Madison Newton in 2019's third round and Wasson in 2023's second round.

Minkel's hot start helped propel her to a 50th-place finish as she closed with rounds of 95, 94 and 89. Sophomore Kylie Fahnestock provided a counting score for the Chargers each day as she tied for 55th. Fahnestock's tournament was highlighted by consecutive 87s in the second and third rounds.

Sandburg opened the tournament with a 363 on Tuesday and added scores of 366, 365 and 359. The Chargers finished 19 shots back of 12th-place Roane State and 17 ahead of 14th-place Rend Lake.

Shelton State won the national championship with a four-day total of 1,275. The Bucs recorded the lowest total in each round and won by 34 shots over runner-up Mesa. 

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