Marian Caps Historic Season With Fifth Place Finish at NAIA National Championships

Silvis, Ill. - After continuing the leaderboard climb throughout the week, the Marian women's golf team completed their best season in program history, as the Knights finished fifth overall at the 2024 NAIA National Championships, recording the best finish at the NAIA Championships. Marian jumped one spot on the final day, and were led for the week by senior Sidney Parmer, who earned NAIA All-Tournament Team honors.

Marian entered the final round in sixth place, and were hungry for more on the final day of the championships as they posted their second-best round score of the week with a 308. Marian ended the week with a total of 1247, slashing the previous-best record set in 2010 by 58 strokes. Marian's fifth-place finish is the best-ever in program history, topping the previous-best finish of 14th set in the 2010 season. 

Keiser would go on to win the NAIA Championships as they scored an 1194 for the week, while Oklahoma City placed second and British Columbia took third. Marian put the pressure on SCAD-Savannah on the final day, but came up 13 shots short of bringing home the fourth-place trophy, as the Bees put up a 1234 total. Marian was able to jump Texas Wesleyan on the final day, beating TWU by three strokes.

Individually, Sidney Parmer ended her brilliant senior season on a high note, as the Crossroads League Player of the Year finished the tournament in a tie for 14th place after ending the tournament with a pair of strong rounds. Coming off her 70 score on Thursday, Parmer ended her collegiate career with a 69, posting the second-lowest score of the day for the entire field. Parmer's strong finish landed her on the NAIA Championship All-Tournament Team, tying the program record for 72 holes with her total of 305. Parmer is tied with Angela Gauck for the program record.

Keara Eder finished 29th for the week, shooting an 80 in the final round to total of 312 over four rounds. MacKendzie Dresbaugh tied for 47th as she shot an 84 in the final round and finished with a 319 score. Both of the freshmen in Marian's lineup Emma Weiler and Hailey Kirkland tied for 51st, totaling a 322 for the week. Kirkland scored a 78 for the second consecutive day, while Weiler scored an 81 for the fourth round.

Marian's program-record season was capped after headlining the Crossroads League honors in 2023-24, as the Knights won the CL Championship for a second consecutive season.

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