Rock Island Today

After a stellar season that saw championships at the Highland Classic and Benedictine Spring Invite and a fifth-place finish at the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Championship in West Chicago, the Augustana women’s golf team looks to stay the course.

Veteran coach Tom Lawrence returns for a fifth year as the VIkings head coach. He helped guide the Augustana women to a 47-32-1 record last season and set a school two-round record of 660 at the Highland Classic. 

The Vikings return four starters from last season after graduating letter winner and captain Jenna Stone.

Melanie Loeffler

Sophomore standout Melanie Loeffler of Homer Glen returns after being named  MVP in her freshmen season. She set a school record at the Highland Classic with a 70 in her first round, then went on to win medalist honors at the Classic and the Benedictine Spring Invite at St. Andrews Golf and Country Club in West Chicago with line scores of 70-77 (147) and 88-84 (172), respectively. 

Loeffler also holds the school record for the lowest scoring average, at 83.14, and is tied with teammate Jenna Lawrence for the most rounds scored. She played all 21 rounds last year, taking team highs in 11 events. 

Upperclassmen will take charge this season behind team co-captains Korina Freidag and Jenna Lawrence. 

Freidag held a 97.2 stroke average with a low round of 88 at the CCIW Championship, finishing 31st and being named Academic All-CCIW. 

Lawrence holds four top-five finishes from last season. She held an 89 stroke average with a low round of 80 at the Highland Classic in Rock Island. Lawrence took third place at the Early Bird Classic with an 83 and 22nd at the CCIW Championship with a line score of 88-93-81 (262). She was also named Academic All-CCIW. 

Rock Island native Claire Benisch is looking for her second letter since freshmen year. The junior averaged 92.3 strokes, with a low round of 89 at the Highland Classic and the Wartburg Spring Invite in Waverly, Iowa. 

Sophomores Chelsea Meyer and Grace Ludwig also return, looking for improved seasons.  

Meyer had a good season playing nine rounds over five events, averaging 90.4 strokes for the year. She shot a season-low 83 at the Highland Classic to take seventh place with a 169. She placed 28th overall at the CCIW Championship. 

Ludwig played 15 rounds over seven events, averaging 93.9 strokes last season. She shot her lowest rounds during the conference championship, going 89-87-88 for a 24th-place finish at 264. She shot two 89 rounds early in the season and took fifth at the Oakland City Invitational in Montgomery, Ind.

New this season are freshmen Jennifer Filotto of Romeoville, Miranda Sharp of Shorewood and Jillian Stone of Reynolds. 

The Vikings play a 13-match season this year, opening with back-to-back meetings against Monmouth College, the first at Highland Springs. The Vikings will then hit the road to play at Gibson Woods.