HUNTLEY, Ill. - The University of Northwestern Women's Golf team is participating in its most important tournament of the season to-date this week, teeing it up at the NCCAA North Central Regional. The two-day tournament is being played at Whisper Creek Golf Club and the winning team will earn an automatic bid to next month's NCCAA National Championship in Palm Coast, Florida. Additionally, the lowest-scoring individual that is not on the winning team will also earn an auto-bid to nationals. UNW's Morgan Eckman (Jordan, Minn./Jordan) has earned the individual bid in each of her first two seasons, going on to earn All-America honors both times. To follow along with live scoring, click here, create an account, click the green circle with a "+" and enter code JWNGHL.
 
Day One
 
With 18 holes in the books and another 18 to play, Northwestern sits in good position in second place with a score of 323 (+35), just five strokes behind the leaders from Bethel (Indiana). Eckman was lights out to lead the way, making birdies on holes one, four and 16 en route to a 73 (+1), which puts her in first place, individually, by five strokes. The Eagles' next-best finisher was freshman Brielle Lenz (Marshfield, Wis./Marshfield), who re-entered the lineup Monday and posted a 79 (+7) that included a birdie on the 15^th hole. The rookie is tied for third entering Tuesday's final round. Fellow freshman Bri Brandt (Blaine, Minn./Legacy Christian Academy) is tied for 10^th after carding an 84 (+12) on Monday, while Paige Johnson (Zimmerman, Minn./Homeschool) turned in an 87 (+15), including a birdie on the par-four ninth. Sondra Albrecht (Ham Lake, Minn./Legacy Christian Academy) rounded out UNW's day with a 90 (+18) after starting her day with three-consecutive pars.
 
The Eagles and Eckman will both vie for qualifying spots Tuesday morning in the final round of the tournament from Whispering Creek.
 
Day Two
 
Tuesday's final round brought about improvement for Northwestern, as UNW shot 321 (+33) as a team, but unfortunately Bethel also improved its score and pulled away in the team race, resulting in a runner-up finish for Billy Aune's squad. The silver lining for the Eagles was that Morgan Eckman (Jordan, Minn./Jordan) did not relinquish her individual lead, shooting 77 (+5) on Tuesday with birdies on 11 and 13 to win medalist honors by five strokes (+6) and qualify for her third NCCAA National Championship in as many years.
 
Paige Johnson (Zimmerman, Minn./Homeschool) finished in seventh place, bouncing back after a tough opening round to shoot 78 (+6) and finish +21 for the week. Bri Brandt (Blaine, Minn./Legacy Christian Academy) was right behind her in a tie for eighth at +22 after posting an 82 (+10) on Tuesday, while Brielle Lenz (Marshfield, Wis./Marshfield) (+23) placed tenth after a final-round 88 (+16). Sondra Albrecht (Ham Lake, Minn./Legacy Christian Academy) improved on day two as well, carding an 84 (+12) that included a birdie on hole nine to finish in 14^th.
 
Up Next
 
The Eagles will hit the road again later this week to participate in the Midwest Region Classic at Brighton Dale Links in Kansasville, Wisconsin.