Kemper Leads Trojans to Runner-Up Finish
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Taylor women's golf team braved the elements to earn a runner-up finish in the weather-shortened Ackerman-Allen Shootout on Monday.
The tournament at Purdue University's Ackerman-Allen Golf Course was originally scheduled for two rounds all to be played on Monday but snow and frigid temperatures forced the event to be shortened to one round.
The brutal conditions didn't faze the 19th-ranked Trojans as Taylor posted a team score of 322 in the midst of freezing temperatures, harsh winds, rain, and sleet.
Sophomore Elizabeth Kemper led the way for TU as the Fairland, Indiana native grinded out a round of 5-over par 77 to finish the day in a five-way tie atop the leaderboard. Kemper faced competitors from four other schools in the five-person playoff for the individual title. Bethel's Jessica Shurety claimed the title on the first playoff hole.
Freshman Sabrina Langerak added a 78 for the Trojans to finish one shot out of the playoff and in a tie for sixth place. Fellow freshmen Alyssa Schmidt and Ellie Karst also counted for TU with rounds of 83 and 84, respectively. Junior Kailey Berhens added a 90 for Taylor. TU competed without senior All-American Nicole Jung who missed the event due to injury.
Taylor's team score of 322 was four shots behind the tournament champions from Marion. Taylor finished ahead of a handful of ranked and Crossroads League foes including Grace (325), #22 Northwestern Ohio (325), #25 Bethel (327), #16 Indiana Wesleyan (329), Mount Vernon Nazarene (332), Saint Francis (338), and Huntington (372).
The event marked the conclusion of the regular season for Taylor as the Trojans will now turn their attention to the Crossroads League Championship where Taylor is the four-time defending champions. The Crossroads League Championship will be played May 2-3 at Prairie View Golf Club in Carmel, Indiana.