The Mustang women’s golf team finished second in the final GPAC standings to earn a berth in the NAIA Women’s Golf National Championship. Photo / Gene Knudsen

Morningside’s women’s golf team is national tournament bound after the Mustangs finished second at Monday’s GPAC Qualifier #4 at Wild Oaks Golf Course in Mitchell, S.D.

The NAIA Women’s Golf National Championship will be held May 17-20 at Savannah Quarters Country Club in Pooler, Ga. The Mustangs qualified for the national tournament as a team for the first time in school history after the Mustangs’ Kristi Tighe competed in the 2007 NAIA national tourney as an individual.

The Mustangs, who entered the final qualifier in fourth place, carded a 334 in Monday’s tourney to move past Mount Marty and Nebraska Wesleyan for second place in the final conference standings. Morningside’s 334 in GPAC Qualifier #4 finished second to only host Dakota Wesleyan’s 331.

Dakota Wesleyan finished with a four-tournament total of 1349 strokes to win its eighth consecutive GPAC championship. Morningside finished second five strokes back at 1354 for a nine-stroke cushion over third place Mount Marty’s 1363.

Alexandra Mankle, a freshman from Milford, Iowa, led the Mustangs’ Freshman Fab Five with a 79 at GPAC Qualifier #4 for the fourth best individual score in the field. Mikaela Livengood, a freshman from Eagle Grove, Iowa, finished sixth with an 82. Cheyanne Becker, a freshman from Waukee, Iowa, was next with an 86, while Myla Brown, a freshman from Sioux Falls, S.D., and Elizabeth Thies, a freshman from Green Isle, Minn., each had 87s.

Mankle finished fifth in the final combined individual scoring with a total of 328 strokes to finish only three strokes out of second place. Brown finished 10th with a 338 and Becker was one stroke back at 339 for 11th place.

GPAC Qualifier #4 Results

Combined GPAC Qualifier Results