Loyola places 14th at NAIA Championship

SILVIS, Ill. – In their fifth consecutive appearance at the NAIA National Championship, the Loyola Wolf Pack women's golf team made it four straight years placing inside the Top 15 of the championship field. Loyola took 14th place with a fourth-round score of 328 (+44) on Friday, and the team finished the four-day tournament with a total of 1,285 (+133). The Wolf Pack has now made the Top 17 cut, which takes place after the second round, all five years, too. 

Once again the course, which hosts the PGA Tour's John Deere Classic, proved tough for all 30 teams and 150-plus competitors. British Columbia (+47), Keiser (+76) and Oklahoma City (+78) were the only three teams to score better than 100-over-par throughout the four rounds, as Southern States Athletic Conference rivals Dalton State and William Carey finished tied for fourth (+108). 

Once again, the Wolf Pack started their round on the 10th tee, playing the course's back nine first before moving to the first nine later in the day. 

Catherine Singletary was the lone Wolf Pack golfer to finish in the Top 50 of the 150-plus field. On Friday, Singletary had one birdie on the first nine holes to help bring her score to 3-over at the turn, then two bogeys and five pars through the next seven holes proceeded two double bogeys to close out her round of 80 (+9). Playing in her first career national championship as a freshman, Singletary had a 321 (+37) score after 72 holes this week to place in a tie for 48th. 

Emma Smithers, making her third appearance at the championship tournament, placed 57th overall on the individual leaderboard with a four-round total of 323 (+39). Smithers had four pars and five bogeys through her first nine holes on Friday, then a more up-and-down second nine brought her to the same 5-over score to finish with a fourth-round 81 (+10). Her 57th-place finish was the best finish of her collegiate career as well. 

Lainey Cristan had a tough start to the day before finding a little consistency with her scoring. After a 9-over first nine, the sophomore had a 5-over second nine to card her fourth-round score of 85 (+14). She'd finish her first-ever national tournament in a tie for 58th with a four-day total of 324 (+40). 

Blair McKenzie placed tied for 70th with a tournament score of 329 (+45). The sophomore also making her first appearance at the NAIA National Championship, had a couple of birdies on her first nine holes, carding a 3 on the 11th and 14th holes - her second fifth holes of the day. After shooting a 3-over first nine, the next nine holes proved more difficult for the sophomore, finishing the day with an 85 (+14). 

Daniella Salazar made it all five Wolf Pack golfers in the Top 80, taking 78th place (334, +50). Salazar, who was playing in her third career national championship, was 4-over through five holes before recording a birdie on the par-4, 15th. She'd finish the first nine holes 5-over before a 6-over second nine brought Salazar to her 82 (+11).
 

Women's Team Leaderboard

1. #1 British Columbia – Round 1: 293 | Round 2: 312 | Round 3: 298 | Round 4: 296 | Total: 1199 (+47)
2. #3 Keiser – Round 1: 297 | Round 2: 307 | Round 3: 314 | Round 4: 310 | Total: 1228 (+76)
3. #4 Oklahoma City – Round 1: 303 | Round 2: 310 | Round 3: 309 | Round 4: 308 | Total: 1230 (+78)
14. #12 Loyola – Round 1: 317 | Round 2: 311 | Round 3: 329 | Round 4: 328 | Total: 1,285 (+133)
 

Women's Individual Leaderboard

1. Makayla Tyrell (Oklahoma City) – Round 1: 71 | Round 2: 75 | Round 3: 76 | Round 4: 72 | Total: 294 (+10)
T2. Hannah Ulibarri (The Master's) – Round 1: 71 | Round 2: 74 | Round 3: 74 | Round 4: 78 | Total: 297 (+13)
T2. Catherine Batang (Menlo) – Round 1: 75 | Round 2: 73 | Round 3: 75 | Round 4: 74 | Total: 297 (+13)

Loyola Women's Leaderboard

T48. Catherine Singletary – Round 1: 81 | Round 2: 82 | Round 3: 78 | Round 4: 80 | Total: 321 (+37)
57. Emma Smithers – Round 1: 77 | Round 2: 78 | Round 3: 87 | Round 4: 81 | Total: 323 (+39)
T58. Lainey Cristan – Round 1: 82 | Round 2: 76 | Round 3: 81 | Round 4: 85 | Total: 324 (+40)
T70. Blair McKenzie – Round 1: 77 | Round 2: 75 | Round 3: 92 | Round 4: 85 | Total: 329 (+45)
T78. Daniella Salazar – Round 1: 82 | Round 2: 87 | Round 3: 83 | Round 4: 82 | Total: 334 (+50)

You can keep up with the Pack by following Wolf Pack Athletics on Facebook at Facebook.com/LoyolaWolfPack, Twitter and Instagram @LoyolaWolfPack, and by checking out our website at LoyolaWolfPack.com.