Trojans qualify for nationals, DeLong wins district title
ANKENY - For the second straight season, the NIACC women's golf team is going to the national tournament.
NIACC placed second on Tuesday at the NJCAA North Plains District Championship at Otter Creek Golf Course with a 2-day, 36-hole total of 341-336 - 677, which is the lowest 2-day total at a regional/district tournament in the Chris Frenz era.
The previous low 2-day total for the Trojans at a regional/district tournament was a 691 in 2013.
DMACC won the district title with a 2-day total of 328-337 - 665.
"It's a great day to be a Trojan," said Frenz, who will be taking his third women's team to the national tournament. "They really got after it (Tuesday) and for awhile had an opportunity to come away with the win.
"But we're really excited with the finish and a chance to compete in the national championship. It truly was a team accomplishment."
NIACC's Meghan DeLong, a sophomore from Clear Lake, claimed individual medalist honors at the NJCAA North Plains District Championship in a three-hole playoff over DMACC's Megan Wilde. It is the first individual regional/district championship for a NIACC women's golfer.
DeLong shot 77-80 - 157 and Wilde also shot 77-80 - 157 in their 36 holes at the district championship. DeLong and Wilde both recorded pars on the first two holes of the playoff (holes No. 15 and No. 16) and DeLong claimed the title with a low score on hole No. 17.
"this was a hard-fought win for her as it took three playoff holes to earn the victory," Frenz said of DeLong, who won for the 10th time in her stellar two-year career at NIACC. "Going into the playoff, she told me that she loved playoffs and that confidence carried through.
"It's been a strange year for her battling through an injury that took her out of the entire fall season. Then dealing with class conflicts this spring, but she stayed focused and winning (Tuesday) is huge for her, the entire team and NIACC women's golf."
The 2-day total of 157 for DeLong is the lowest regional/district total in the Frenz era. The previous low 2-day total at a regional/district tournament was 160 by Mikayla Smith at the 2013 regional tournament.
Also for the Trojans at the district tournament, freshman Audrey Overgaard shot 89-84 - 173, which was seventh in the individual medalist competition. Sophomore Addy Boell shot 87-87 - 174, which tied for eighth in the individual medalist competition, freshman Avery Knutsen shot 88-87 - 175, which tied for 10th, and Kenedee Frayne shot 94-85 - 179, which was 15th.
"Addy Boell was outstanding both days," Frenz said, "and really came through with two solid rounds.
"Kenedee Frayne played great (Tuesday) after a difficult Monday. Avery and Audrey were good both days and really helped solidify our team."
Overgaard's two-day total of 173 is the eighth best score at a regional/district tournament in the Frenz era. Boell's 174 ranks ninth in the Frenz era at a regional/district tournament and Knutsen's 175 is tied for 10th in the Frenz era.
The NJCAA Division II national tournament is set for May 12-15 at the Ol' Colony Golf Complex in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
NIACC placed sixth at the inaugural NJCAA Division II national tournament in 2025 in Boone.
Team standings - DMACC 328-337 - 665, NIACC 341-336 - 677, Iowa Central 350-348 - 698, Southeast CC (Neb.) 387-397 - 784, Hawkeye CC 406-397 - 803.
