Berkland leads women’s golf to seventh in Council Bluffs

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa — Kelsa Berkland put together a 176 at the two-round Bent Tree Intercollegiate from Bent Tree Golf Club, leading the Simpson women's golf team to a seventh-place finish Monday.

The Storm shot 716 for the tournament, 19 strokes behind Mount Mercy and 11 ahead of Nebraska Wesleyan. Host Iowa Western CC won the tournament with a 629.

Berkland shot 89 in the first round and 87 in the second, putting her in a tie for 26th in the field of 73 golfers. She turned in the Storm's second-best round Monday, behind Lydia Martin's 85.

Martin and Courtney Mabeus tied for 29th with 178. Martin cut eight strokes in the second round following Sunday's 93. Mabeus led Simpson with an 86 in the first round, then closed with a 92.

Madison Hance placed 40th (95-92--187) and Haley Booton took 41st (92-96--188) to round out Simpson's varsity scorers. Kelsey Poppe (110-92--202, 59th) and Cassady Carmichael (107-104--211, 67th) competed as individuals.

Simpson hosts its own invitational Thursday, April 13 at Deer Run Golf Course in Indianola.