The culmination of two years of playing together paid off for the Triton Women's Golf team on Tuesday (4/29) as they finished second at the North Plains District Meet held at Otter Creek Golf Course in Ankeny, IA and qualified for the upcoming NJCAA Division II Women's National Championships. 

 

"We've worked really hard over the last two years to get to this point," said Triton Head Coach, Kris Graewin. "I'm thrilled to be taking my first women's team to nationals. I'm so proud of our ladies."

 

Tied after day one with #10 DMACC in the team standings at +56, the #3 ranked Tritons fired a +54 on day two finishing eight shots back of DMACC and 17 strokes in front of #12 NIACC. 

 

The Tritons were led by Ivanna Becerra Diaz who claimed individual medalist honors with a score of +12. She held a four-shot lead following an opening round six-over 77 and stretched that to a seven-stroke win with another 77 to close the tournament. 

 

As a team, all four Tritons finished in the top fifteen individually. Olivia Eckert shot a 22-over, 154 to finish fifth and Jenna Kramer scored a +36, 178 to finish tied for tenth. Brooklynn Backoff closed the scoring for the Tritons with a +40, 182 and a 13th place finish.

 

"Ivanna showed over the last two days she is one of the best players in the country," said Graewin. "She's been an absolute joy to coach." 

 

Becerra-Diaz and Eckert were named 1st Team All-Region performers following the tournament. Kramer was named 2nd Team All-Region and Backoff collected Honorable Mention All-Region honors.

 

"I fully expect us to compete for a national title as a team and Ivanna as an individual," said Graewin. "We've been able to play the National Tournament golf course a few times with it being so close to campus and I think it sets up well for us. The ladies will finish Finals next week and then turn their attention to Cedar Pointe."

 

The 2025 NJCAA National Championships will be held at Cedar Pointe Golf Club in Boone, Iowa on May 13-16, 2025.

 

Full North Plains District Meet results can be found at https://scoreboard.clippd.com/tournaments/237960/scoring/team