2017 WIAC Women's Golf Championship Preview

University of Wisconsin-Stout will aim for a second consecutive first-place finish at the 2017 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Women’s Golf Championship (Presented by Culver’s). The 22nd edition of the league spectacle will be hosted by UW-Stout and determined over 54 holes at Reedsburg Country Club in Reedsburg, Wis., Oct. 6-8. This marks the second straight year the facility has hosted the event. The team winner will receive an automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Championship that will be conducted May 8-11, 2018 in Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla.
 
The Blue Devils collected the third WIAC title in program archives a season ago with 980 strokes to nip UW-Oshkosh’s second-place total of 985 strokes. UW-Whitewater placed third with 1,005 strokes, while UW-Eau Claire was fourth with 1,033, UW-Platteville fifth with 1,061, UW-River Falls sixth with 1,102 and UW-Stevens Point seventh with 1,114.
 
UW-Stout’s lineup is led by senior Rachel Hernandez, who owns a 79.1 stroke average. She set a school record earlier this fall for lowest 18-hole score (70) and 36-hole score (145) at the Wartburg College (Iowa) Invitational. The Blue Devils’ lineup also features junior Marie Allo (83.9), along with a trio of sophomores – Alexa Filipiak (83.9), Trystin Kluess (83.2) and Madison McCambridge (82.0).
 
UW-Oshkosh has won four league crowns with the most recent in 2015. This year’s squad is led by sophomore Hannah Braun, who won the UW-Oshkosh Titan Classic and boasts a 78.5 stroke average. She is joined by senior Micayla Richards (80.1), juniors Kayla Priebe (81.6) and Ireland Dunne (88.3), sophomores Hanna Rebholz (88.3) and Dianna Scheibe (90.5), and freshman Keara Richards (86.6).
 
UW-Whitewater’s lineup is headed by sophomre Ashley Hofmeister, who secured medalist honors at last year’s WIAC championship. This season, she boasts a league-best 78.4 stroke average and has posted first-place finishes at the Carthage College (Wis.) Shootout on the Border, UW-Whitewater Fall Invitational and UW-Stevens Point Mad Dawg Invitational.
 
The Warhawks have captured a pair of WIAC titles, including the inaugural crown in 1996. Sophomore CheyAnn Knudsen owns a 79.7 stroke average and established a 36-hole school record with a 148 at the Wartburg Invitational. UW-Whitewater’s squad is bolstered by senior Hayley Jefferson (90.8), sophomore Kelly Storti (84.5) and a foursome of juniors – Breanna Bertschinger (91.8), Kaitlin Bowe (84.9), Maddie McCue (81.6) and Sabrina Schreck (88.3).
 
UW-Eau Claire owns a conference-high nine championships. The Blugolds have received strong showings this fall from senior Molly Lattery (84.4), juniors Allison Chomniak (84.0) and Ashli Stolen (84.1), and freshmen Jessica Rudnicki (87.0) and Megan Glaeser (87.9).
 
Additional WIAC regulars averaging rounds below 90 this fall include:  UW-Platteville senior Lindsay Neitzel (87.6); and UW-River Falls sophomore Paige Isensee (86.1) and freshman Danielle DeWitt (87.3). Isensee won the UW-River Falls Triangular to begin the season.
 
UW-Stevens Point junior Jackie Halverson owns a team-best 96.6 strokes per round.
 

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