Women’s golf swings into fall season
The Augustana women’s golf team kicked off their season with victories over 16 teams during the Central Region Fall Preview in Blue Spring, Missouri during a two-day tournament on Sept. 3 and 4.
Senior Shannon McCormick and junior Lanie Veenendall finished the tournament tied for fourth with a final stroke total of 146, two-over par. Less than 24 hours after the tournament’s completion, McCormick was named the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Golfer of the Week.
“It was great,” McCormick said. “It’s an awesome way to start the season for not only me but the whole team. Personally, it was super cool to do, as it’s been a goal of mine. I’m glad I could represent Augie right away.”
Before the lady Vikings took to Missouri to compete, the NSIC preseason coaches’ poll was released. The team was picked first in the 2024-25 poll with McCormick named the “Viking athlete to watch.” McCormick finished the 2023-24 season with numerous accolades under her belt. During the NSIC championship invite, she tied for fifth while helping Augustana claim their fourth straight title. McCormick was among two other Augustana students to be included in the 2024 NSIC Women’s Golf All-Tournament.
McCormick was among five of the Augustana students to be named as a Women’s Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) All-American Scholar in July 2024. The other four students were junior Masy Mock, graduate student Molly Stevens, senior Lauren Tims and sophomore Lanie Veenendall. According to the news release for WGCA, “1,565 women’s collegiate golfers from 429 programs” received this honor. Additionally, McCormick was named to the College Sports Communicators At Large Academic All-District team in June 2024. Ten Augustana athletes were selected, five of which were also WGCA scholars.
McCormick finished the 2023-24 season with an average score of 77.4 per round after competing in 12 events and 25 rounds. McCormick finished in the top five in four separate invites.
“I said in the NSIC polls that our player to watch was Shannon McCormick, and sure enough, in the first round, she went out and shot two-under par,” Head Coach Coralle Jorgensen said. “But right on her heels is Lanie Veenendall. Lanie can shoot under par any given day.”
McCormick and Veenendall are just two of the many talented athletes on the golf team. Masy Mock is returning to the team after her season was cut short last year due to an injury. Jorgensen is excited to have Mock back and noted that Mock also scores below par most days.
Sophomore Mattie Weidenbach also returns, following a team championship title. She participated in eight events, with 17 rounds total, and averaged a season score of 82.2.
The Vikings will round out their fall season at the USF Invitational in Larchwood, Iowa, on Oct. 14 and 15.
