SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The UIndy women's golf team (324-294-296) earned its record-extending eighth consecutive conference title Sunday, winning the 2019 GLVC Championships by a gaudy 53 strokes. The margin of victory broke the league record for the tournament of 37 strokes, set just last spring by the Greyhounds.
 
Held at Panther Creek Country Club in Springfield, Ill., the three-day event proved challenging for all 68 competitors. Nevertheless, UIndy pulled away from the field more and more each round, with all five Greyhounds finishing in the top 11 on the individual leaderboard.
 
Said Head Coach Brent Nicoson: "The girls battled high winds in three different directions each day, rain, cold temps, thick rough and tough championship pin locations on a great golf course this week. I'm so proud of their effort as it was a physically and mentally exhausting tournament.
 
"I can't ask for much more than having five finishers in the top 11. All of the girls did their jobs this week."
 
The Hounds were once again led by junior Pilar Echeverria (76-74-73). The two-time All-American and two-time reigning GLVC Player of the Year captured her first conference medal, winning the tournament with a 54-hole score of +7. The win gives her six individual titles on the season, upping her own school record.
 
"Pilar's fantastic season continues," said Nicoson. "It was great to see her get that first conference title."
 
The Hounds also snatched the No. 2 and No. 3 spots on the board. Freshman Cailyn Henderson (82-73-75), one of three Greyhounds playing in their first conference championships, secured runner-up honors at +14, while senior (and 2016 GLVC medalist) Katharina Keilich (81-74-76) finished one stroke back of Henderson to take third. All three aforementioned Greyhounds earned All-GLVC accolades by placing in the top five.

ALL-GLVC HONOREES*
Pilar Echeverria, UIndy
Cailyn Henderson, UIndy
Katharina Keilich, UIndy
Nathasha Ainsley-Thomas, McKendree
Emma Thorngren, Missouri-St. Louis
_{*Five more honorees will be added based on a coaches vote next month}

Senior Kennedy Holtsclaw (86-77-72) just missed all-conference laurels, sharing sixth place among the field. Her even-par 72 on Sunday represented the lowest round of the entire tournament. Sophomore Anna Kramer (85-73-80) finished at +22 to take 11th place.
 
This weekend's result nets the Greyhounds the league's automatic bid in the upcoming NCAA Division II East Regional. UIndy will defend its regional title starting May 6 in Owensboro, Ky.
 
Concluded Nicoson: "We had some great individual efforts this week. I feel like we are making the progress we needed to as we head into the NCAA tournament."

ROUND 2
Heading into the day with an already substantial lead, UIndy (324-294) used Saturday's second round to double its lead. As the only team to shot under 300 today, the Greyhounds now lead second-place Missouri-St. Louis by a commanding 30 strokes.
 
All five Greyhounds sit in the top 20, with each of the top three stops occupied by Hounds. Junior Pilar Echeverria (+6) tops the leaderboard, owning a five-stroke cushion heading into the final round.
 
UIndy's Katharina Keilich (81-74) and Cailyn Henderson (82-73) are tied for second at +11. Sophomore Anna Kramer used a second-round 73 to jump into a share of sixth, while senior Kennedy Holtsclaw (86-77) moved up to 19th with 18 holes to play.
 
ROUND 1
Battling high winds and thick rough, UIndy (324) finished at +36 as a team but still managed to build a 15-stroke advantage over second-place Lewis (339). Three Greyhounds are currently in the top 12, including Pilar Echeverria (76). The two-time All-American finished at +4, one back of leader Carmen Villaverde (75) of Maryville.
 
Senior Katharina Keilich (81) shares fifth place at the one-third point, while freshman Cailyn Henderson (82) is close behind in 12th. Sophomore Anna Kramer (85) is tied for 22nd and senior Kennedy Holtsclaw is tied for 29th.