Grinnell Captures 4th Title in Row

2022 SLIAC Women's Golf Championship - Finals

PHOTO GALLERY

After jumping out to a commanding 32-stroke lead after the first round of the 2022 St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Women's Golf Championship there was not much tension outside of who would come away with the individual title. That too came down to a member of the Pioneers program with three golfers finishing within one stroke of each other.

Grinnell opened the tournament with a team score of 302 and followed with a 301 on day two further establishing the Pioneers' favor of playing at The Rail Golf Course in Springfield, Illinois. Along with their third-round score of 308, the Pioneers have the five lowest championship rounds in conference history with each round coming at the course they first visited last year. Their team score of 911 goes into the book as well as the first conference championship to play three rounds. 

The individual title was a race all weekend with three different Pioneers holding the lead at the end of each of the three days. Mary Li held the lead with a 75 after the opening round and Vidushi Keni lead after round two with a 147.

However, it would be freshman Kavya Keshav that walked away with the title, coming from two strokes back in the final round to win by one shot. Keshav finished with a 225, shooting 76-73-76. She becomes just the second player in conference history to win medalist honors and SLIAC Newcomer of the Year honors in the same season; joining Spalding University's Kassidy Wallin in 2017. 

Keshav carded three birdies on the front nine of the championship round and closed out the round with four pars on the back nine. Her round of 73 in the second round was her best round this season with the tournament title becoming her first collegiate win. She is the fourth consecutive Pioneer to win medalist honors, joining three-time winner Nina Kouchi. 

Li and Keni tied for second on the individual standings with a 226. Grinnell had eight players named All-Conference: Keshav, Li, Keni, Lauren Chen, Amy Nguyen, Sara Meneses, Lexi Mueldener, and Zoe Robinson. 

If there was one player in contention to grab the individual title outside of the Grinnell program it was Illinois College's Kate Burr. Burr was one of just four golfers to shoot in the 70s in each of her three rounds. Burr opened with a 78 and followed with a 79 before closing out with a 76, the second-lowest score of the championship round. Joining her with All-Conference honors were Sandie Norville, Olivia Quigley, Amy Fowler, and Alyvia Burr. The Lady Blues finished second as a team with a 971 with a best round of 314 on the final day.

Lake Forest College finished 3rd as a team with a 997. Gabrielle Krebs led the way with a 238, finishing 6th overall to earn First Team All-Conference honors. Sydney Foulon (248) and Alijah Campbell (250) were both named Second Team All-Conference.

Spalding University was 4th overall with a 1024. Jordan Harris finished tied for 7th with a 240 and was joined on the All-Conference team by teammate Alexis Seay who shot a 249.

Finishing in 5th was Fontbonne University with a 1159. Annie McFee topped the Griffins with a 262, finishing 22nd overall. 

Eureka College placed 6th with a 1476. Megan Masching led the Red Devils with a 307, finishing 38th overall. 

Westminster College completed the team scores with a 1597. Hannah Meyers carded a 385 to finish 44th and lead the Blue Jays. 

Blackburn College competed with three individuals and was led by Tess Saathoff's 270, good for 28th overall.

Amanda Stevens was the top golfer from Monmouth College, finishing tied for 25th with a 266.

In addition to All-Conference honors the SLIAC recognized the All-Sportsmanship and Team Sportsmanship winners. Westminster College was voted by the coaches as the Team Sportsmanship award winner for 2022. Each school also had one player selected to the All-Sportsmanship team. Those players were: Tess Saathoff, Blackburn College; Marissa Lewis, Eureka College; Annie McFee, Fontbonne University; Zoe Robinson, Grinnell College; Olivia Quigley, Illinois College; Emma Ackland, Lake Forest College; Sarah Saddoris, Monmouth College; Madison Elder, Spalding University; and Emma Halbrook, Westminster College.