Gaffney makes school history in IIAC First Round

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – Jennifer Gaffney etched her name in the Simpson record books after her performance in the first round of the Iowa Conference Championship on Friday.

A senior from Grimes, Iowa, Gaffney fired an even-par 72 after 18 holes at Pheasant Ridge Golf Course, good for the tournament lead. Hers is the lowest round ever recorded by a Simpson women's golfer at the IIAC Championship.

Gaffney birdied four times on the day and paces the 40-person field, leading by two strokes over defending-champion Kelsi Sawatzky of Wartburg.

Gaffney's effort came within a stroke of tying the 18-hole tournament record set by Central's Sarah Paulsen in 2008, as she tries to become Simpson's first medalist since Janelle Claiborne in 2004.

As a team, Simpson sits in third place after shooting 328 in the first round. Wartburg leads the way (307), followed by Luther (317). The race for third is a tight one, as Central is four strokes behind Simpson with 332 and Loras is only six strokes back (334). Dubuque is sixth (352), followed by Coe (357) and Buena Vista (371).

Stacy Bergeson sits four strokes behind her teammate after finishing the day with a 4-over 76, the lowest round of her career.

Jessica Lerdal shot an 89 (t-26th), Kiley Wermersen carded a 91 (30th) and Molly Hill shot a 94 (t-34th) to round out Simpson's lineup.

The IIAC Championship continues Saturday at Pheasant Ridge Golf Course in Cedar Falls.  Tee times begin at 9:00 a.m. with players from Wartburg, Luther and Simpson. Golfers from Central, Loras and Dubuque will be paired together in the second wave beginning at approximately 9:40 a.m., while players from Coe and Buena Vista will make up the third wave which will go off at around 10:15 a.m.