Click here to listen to Coach Weber preview the national tournament
It has been a long and trying year for all college athletes this season, but for four Iowa Lakes golfers the season is not quite over yet.
The quartet of Kelly Winter, Isabella Santistevan, Abby Gaudian, and Gretchen Hofstad all qualified for the NJCAA Women's Golf Championship which will take place starting with round one on Monday, May 10th and run four rounds through Thursday, May 13th.
"This has been an incredible and memorable year for our team, and I am extremely proud and happy for this group to culminate their season at the national championship in Ormond Beach." said Iowa Lakes golf coach Jarvis Weber. "They have worked all year for this week, and I have no doubt we will meet the challenge and do our best. I cannot thank these young women enough for this season and I am truly excited to get one more week with this group all together at nationals," commented Coach Weber.
Because four individuals qualified, the Lakers will get to post a team score down at the national tournament rather than all players competing individually.
"Getting four through will be a lot more fun than just three." added Coach Weber. "The girls will have that team comradery that has gotten them to this point, so we will be out there fighting for each other."
The Lakers will enter the tournament ranked #13 in the country, with all four individuals ranked in the top 100 in the country. All four of the Iowa Lakes qualifiers received the ICCAC Player of the Week award at least once throughout the year.
Kelly Winter leads the group being ranked #67 in the country.
"Kelly is the leader of this team. This is her team. She sets the tone day in and day out, and the other girls will look to her for guidance and leadership. She set out nationals as the goal this year when her freshman spring season was taken away last year, and I know she will be ready to represent the team to the best of her ability next week," commented Coach Weber.
Hofstad, Santistevan, and Gaudian are closely ranked 79, 80, and 81 in the country.
"We have had a very balanced team this year, and the numbers show that. Gretchen, Isabella, and Abby have come in as freshman and exceeded all expectations and I could not be happier for them. They came in ready to work and achieved the goal of getting to nationals. Now we will refocus and set new goals for this week and cap off a really good year for this program," commented Coach Weber.
The Lakers will travel down to Ormond Beach, Florida on Friday to prepare for the four round tournaments starting on Monday, May 10th at Plantation Bay Golf and Country Club. The tournament lasts four days and will end on May 13th.
OTHER: Interview attached with Head Coach Jarvis Weber
20-21 Women's Roster: https://iowalakesathletics.com/sports/wgolf/2020-21/roster
20-21 Women's Schedule: https://iowalakesathletics.com/sports/wgolf/2020-21/schedule
MEDIA: For more information, please contact Head Men's & Women's Golf Coach Jarvis Weber at (712) 362-7988 or the Iowa Lakes sports information office at (712) 362-7928.