Kearney, Neb. – The 46th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney women's golf team dominated the 2022 MIAA Championships, shooting a 54-hole total of 934 to win by nine strokes.

The Lopers, who led the field for roughly the last 40 holes and by as many as 20 strokes, wins its first-ever MIAA title and secures the league's automatic bid to NCAA Central Regionals (May 2-4 in Hot Springs, Ark.). UNK was already in-line to make that 54-hole event as an at-large selection; the field will be revealed this Monday (April 25). 

Battling windy conditions all three days at Sand Creek Station (par 72/5,960 yards), the Lopers turned in rounds of 304, 310 and 320 to beat, among others, No. 22 Central Missouri (943), No. 43 Central Oklahoma (947), No. 20 Rogers State (950) and No. 34 Northeastern State (968).

As a team, UNK carded a tourney-best 34 birdies, had one of four eagles over the three days and recorded 122 pars. The Lopers also had the best scoring average on par 3 (3.33) and par 5 (5.30) holes.

Balance helped the Blue & Gold place first as all five scorers cracked the top 26 with four in the top 13. Kansas sophomore Allison Comer made the five-player all-tourney team thanks to firing a 231 (76-80-75) to tie for third. Claire Solovic of UCM (224) was the medalist with 53rd-ranked Suana Olivares (227) of UCO the runner up. Comer's tourney featured a team-best 29 pars and six birdies.

Next, Colombian freshman Juliana Botero Molina tied for sixth (234; 75-78-81), Kansas freshman Brooke King tied for ninth (238/82-75-81) and Puerto Rico senior Faviola Gonzalez tied for 13th (239; 79-77-83). Finally, Arizona junior Paige Lucero tied for 26th (245; 74-88-83). Lucero had a UNK-best seven birdies, Botero Molina was a tourney-best 5-under on par 5 holes, King had 28 birdies with Gonzalez at six birdies

As a team, the Lopers have reached NCAA Central Regionals three previous times; 2019 (10th), 2018 (T-11th) and 2017 (T-11th). The top three teams in each of eight regionals advance to the NCAA Championships May 10-14 in Georgia.