October 5 , 2007

ASBURY, IOWA . . . Wartburg College maintained its overall lead, but saw its margin over second place Loras College drop to ten strokes following the third round of play Friday at the 2007 Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) Women's Golf Championship at The Meadows Golf Club in Asbury. Wartburg's Stephanie Burns fired an 83 to extend her lead in the medalist hunt to five strokes over Loras' Stephanie Schwartz heading into the tournament's final day.

After posting back-to-back 318s during the opening weekend of play, Wartburg battled wet course conditions on a challenging par-72 layout to post a 351. The Knights sit at 987 heading into the tournament's final 18 holes. Host Loras is next at 997, followed by Luther College in third place at 1019. The Norse fired the low team round on the day with a 342. Defending IIAC champion Simpson College is fourth at 1033.

Schwartz posted the low round of the day Friday with a 6-over-par 78. Buena Vista University's Chelsea Anderson and Luther College's Lindsay Thies each carded an 80 to move into third and fourth place, respectively. Anderson rebounded from a 10 on the par-5 third hole to post her score. Burns and Luther's Emily Looft followed with 83s.

Individually after 54-holes, Burns (75-78-83--236) holds a five-stroke lead over Schwartz (78-85-78--241). Anderson (80-84-80--244) and Thies (83-82-80--245) are eight and nine shots back, respectively. Wartburg's Kate Thompson (78-82-86--246) rounds out the top five individuals.

The 72-hole Championship concludes Saturday, October 6, at The Meadows Golf Club in Asbury. Tee times on Saturday begin at 9:00 a.m. with pairings determined by individual score after 54-holes. The IIAC Champion receives the league’s automatic bid to next May’s NCAA Division III Women’s Golf Championships.

Complete results through 54 holes of the Iowa Conference women's golf Championship and a complete list of final round tee times are here.

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