Gaffney wins, Simpson third at IIAC Championship
PELLA, Iowa – Jennifer Gaffney captured medalist and IIAC Golfer of the Year honors and the women's golf team placed third to close out the Iowa Conference Championship on Saturday.
Gaffney and the rest of the field battled cold, windy conditions and a challenging layout at Bos Landen Golf Course for a second straight day to finish the 72-hole tournament.
Leading by a stroke entering the day, Gaffney carded an 86 to finish at 324, two strokes ahead of Loras' Abby Potts. The senior fired the low round of the tournament with a 72 in the opening round and fell into a tie for third after the opening weekend at Pheasant Ridge in Cedar Falls.
"I am incredibly proud of the perseverance and fight the girls showed this weekend," head coach Noel Knock said.
Gaffney becomes Simpson's 10th Iowa Conference medalist and the first since Janelle Claiborne in 2004.
"Jennifer proved today that she is the best player in the conference and we are very lucky to have her," Knock said of her senior.
As a team, the Storm entered the final round in fourth but moved into third after shooting 368, closing at 1407 (328-347-364-368). Wartburg won the conference title with 1330 (307-312-347-364) and Luther came in second (317-318-374-367). Loras finished seven strokes behind Simpson with 1414 (334-331-375-374).
Stacy Bergeson (76-84-92-94-346) came in 12th, Jessica Lerdal (89-95-91-92-367) finished 19th and Molly Hill (94-90-98-96-378) and Kiley Wermersen (91-91-97-99-378) tied for 21st.
