Alexandra Mankle had the Mustangs’ top individual scoring average during the 2015-16 women’s golf campaign.

Morningside College’s women’s golf team compiled an impressive resume during the 2015-16 season.

The Mustangs won six tournament championships and finished as the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) runner-up en route to their first-ever appearance in the NAIA Women’s Golf National Championship. Morningside finished 25th at the NAIA national tourney held May 17-20 at Savannah Quarters Country Club in Pooler, Ga.

Morningside’s second place finish in the GPAC standings matched runner-up efforts in 2003 and 2006 for the Mustangs’ highest GPAC finish in school history. The Mustangs moved up four spots in the league standings following a sixth place GPAC finish in 2014-15.

Alexandra Mankle, a freshman from Milford, Iowa, was the Mustangs’ individual leader. Mankle paced the Mustangs in both the fall and spring campaigns with 18-hole scoring averages of 84.1 in the fall and 84.7 in the spring for an overall average of 84.4.

Mankle had the Mustangs’ top score of the season with a second round 75 en route to individual medalist honors at the College of Saint Mary Fall Invitational held Sept. 8 and 9 at Miracle Hill Golf Course in Omaha, Neb. Mankle, who carded a 79 in the opening round, finished with a 154 to win medalist honors by a five-stroke margin. Her top scores in the spring season were 79s at the Nebraska Wesleyan University Spring Invitational, the Northwest Iowa Spring Invite, and GPAC Qualifier #4.

Cheyanne Becker, a freshman from Waukee, Iowa, had scoring averages of 85.8 in the fall and 88.1 in the spring to finish second on the Mustangs with an overall average of 86.9.  Becker’s top scores of the season were 80s at the Briar Cliff University Lila Frommelt Fall Classic on Sept. 19 and at the Northwest Iowa Spring Invite on April 22.

Myla Brown, a freshman from Sioux Falls, S.D., ranked second on the Mustangs with an 85.4-stroke scoring average in the fall season. Brown had an 89.5 average in the spring to finish with an overall average of 87.7. Brown matched the Mustangs’ top individual score of the spring season when she carded a 79 to finish as the runner-up medalist at GPAC Qualifier #3 held at Highlands Golf Course in Lincoln, Neb.

Mikaela Livengood, a freshman from Eagle Grove, Iowa, had the Mustangs’ second lowest scoring average during the spring season at 87.9. She had a scoring average of 89.1 in the fall to finish with an overall average of 88.5. Livengood’s top score of the season was an 80 in the second round of the College of Saint Mary Fall Invite.

Elizabeth Thies, a freshman from Green Isle, Minn., averaged 90.8 in the fall and 92.8 in the spring to finish with an overall average of 91.8. Thies, whose top score of the season was an 82 at the Briar Cliff Lila Frommelt Fall Classic, made Morningside women’s golfing history when she aced the 120-yard 16th hole at Pioneers Golf Course in Lincoln, Neb., on Sept. 29 at the Nebraska Wesleyan Pink Classic for the first hole-in-one in school history.

Nathalie Sanchez, a sophomore from Bellevue, Neb., also had an overall scoring average of 91.8 after she averaged 90.8 in the fall and 92.9 in the spring. Sanchez’s top score of the season was a second round 82 at the College of Saint Mary Fall Invite.

The Mustangs reeled off three straight victories to start the fall season when they captured team titles at the Mount Marty College Fall Invite, the College of Saint Mary Fall Invitational, and the Briar Cliff Lila Fommelt Fall Classic. Morningside also won GPAC Qualifier #1 in the fall season and added victories in GPAC Qualifier #3 and the Northwest Iowa Spring Invite in the spring.

Morningside broke a school record for low team score at a home event with a 334 in a runner-up effort at the Morningside Invitational on Sept. 21 at Whispering Creek Golf Club. The Mustangs counted scores of 81 by Becker, 82 by Mankle, 83 by Livengood, and 88 by Thies to break their former home course record of a 335 at Whispering Creek in 2011.