The Valparaiso University women’s golf team ended its first Missouri Valley Conference Championship on a high note, setting a season best for team score for the third consecutive day on Tuesday at Sand Creek Station Golf Course in Newton, Kan. In the process, Valpo posted a 54-hole team score that ranks in the Top 5 in program history. Senior Katie Willenbrink (Mishawaka, Ind. / Penn) led the Crusaders in the final round of her collegiate career by carding a 75.

How It Happened

• Willenbrink concluded the tournament the same way teammate Kayla Krueger (Spring Lake, Mich. / Spring Lake) started it – by stroking a 75 (+3). Willenbrink made the turn at an even par of 36. The Round 3 score allowed her to finish at 236, tied for 33^rd overall.
• Krueger edged Willenbrink for the team lead, finishing with a 235 after posting an 80 for the second straight round on Tuesday.
• Tiffany Curtis (Crown Point, Ind. / Crown Point) shot a 78 (+6) to finish the tournament in 42^nd at 243. Kylie Shoemake (Schererville, Ind. / Lake Central) turned in an 82 to finish with a 54-hole score of 240 (39^th).
• Madison McCreary (Batesville, Ind. / Batesville) also competed in her last collegiate round on Tuesday. She finished the tournament with a 252 over three rounds.

Inside the Tournament

• The 18-hole team score of 315 marked the squad’s best score of the season for the third straight day. Valpo finished with a 953 over three rounds, a mark that ranks fifth in program history for 54-hole team score.
• This was Valpo’s best 54-hole tournament since setting a program record with a 941 at the Fort Wayne Classic April 2-3, 2017. This was the second-best conference championship performance in program history and the best since a 950 in the Horizon League Championship April 26-28, 2013.
• Willenbrink’s 75 (+3) tied Krueger for the top individual round by a Crusader this season. The Valpo senior set a season best in the final round of her collegiate career on Tuesday.
• Curtis matched her season low from the first round of the MVC Fall Preview by stroking a 78.
• Willenbrink finished the season with a team-best scoring average of 81.50. Her career scoring average is 82.24, which ranks fifth in program history.
• The Crusaders closed out the year with a team scoring average of 326.06, a mark that ranks fourth in program history.

Thoughts from Head Coach Jon Haas

“We improved every day. You can’t really ask for much more as a coach. I’m extremely pleased with how our team competed the last few days.”

“It was a pleasure coaching Madison and Katie the last couple years. They have represented Valparaiso University extremely well on the course and in the classroom. We will miss them tremendously next year.”