2014 WIAC Women's Golf Championship Preview University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire will strive for a second straight first-place finish at the 2014 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Women’s Golf Championship. The 19th gathering of league teams will be hosted by UW-River Falls and determined over 54 holes at Lake Arrowhead Golf Course in Nekoosa, Wis., Oct. 3-5. The winner will earn an automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Championship that will be conducted May 12-15, 2015, in Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla. The Blugolds captured the ninth WIAC title in program archives - and fourth in the last five years - a season ago with 999 strokes. UW-Stout took second with 1,008 strokes, while UW-Whitewater placed third with 1,043, UW-Oshkosh fourth with 1,058, UW-Stevens Point fifth with 1,086, UW-River Falls sixth with 1,088 and UW-Platteville seventh with 1,089. UW-Eau Claire’s lineup is led by senior Kate Engler, who earned WIAC Player of the Year recognition a season ago and is the defending conference individual champion. She owns a 79.0 stroke average this fall and posted a fourth-place finish at the Division III Midwest Classic and fifth-place standing at the Wartburg College (Iowa) Fall Invitational. Engler claimed All-WIAC first team recognition in 2012 after receiving second team accolades in 2011. The remainder of the Blugold lineup features seniors Emily Stone (80.3) and Mandi Salo (85.3), along with sophomores Katie Moore (83.3) and Katy Bolduc (86.0). Stone was an All-WIAC first team honoree a year ago, while Salo secured second team recognition. UW-Stout claimed the league crown in 2012 and is fronted by senior Brittany McNett-Emmerich, who possesses a league-best 78.1 stroke average. She earned WIAC Player of the Year recognition in 2012, when she also was the league individual champion. This fall, McNett-Emmerich has earned medalist honors at the Augsburg College (Minn.) Triangular and UW-Stevens Point Mad Dawg Invitational. She was an All-WIAC first team choice last season and second team honoree in 2011. Providing an additional scoring boost for the Blue Devils is a trio of seniors in Mariah Chesley (81.8), Megan Ramp (81.9) and Alison Van Heuklom (82.7), along with junior Maddy Paulsen (86.4). Chesley and Ramp secured All-WIAC second team laurels a year ago. Ramp was also a second team selection in 2012. UW-Whitewater claimed league championships in 1996 and 1999. This year’s lineup includes: senior Claudia Rhein (83.9); junior Sammie Leibhman (84.3); sophomore Kayla Asleson (89.0); and freshmen Stephanie Stair (84.7) and Jess Gruber (90.5). Rhein took second at the UW-Whitewater Fall Classic, while Leibhman has earned All-WIAC second team honors the past two seasons. Additional WIAC regulars averaging rounds below 90 strokes this fall include: UW-Oshkosh sophomores McKenzie Paul (81.4) and Laura Stair (86.3), and freshman Micayla Richards (89.9); UW-Platteville junior Taylor Egnarksi (89.9), and sophomores Stephanie Baribeau (83.5) and Sydney Kilcoin (88.1); UW-River Falls junior Gillian McDonald (84.7); UW-Stevens Point sophomore Tiffany Boak (85.1) and freshman Anna Buna (88.3); and UW-Whitewater senior Sarah Bregant (89.1). Paul tied for first-place at the UW-Oshkosh Invitational and was an All-WIAC first team selection a year ago. McDonald was an All-WIAC second team choice last season after receiving first team laurels in 2012. # # # # #