IU East Wins Third Straight RSC Women's Golf Title

DANIELS, W. Va. - One, Two, Three ...

The Indiana University East women's golf team finished off its third straight title in the River States Conference Championships with an eight-stroke victory at The Resort at Glade Springs on Tuesday, April 23.

The Red Wolves outdistanced the eight-team field with a score of 327-332-328-987 with three players finishing in the top 10. Midway University was second with a 328-339-328-995.

"There was a lot of pressure out there today, especially for Midway and us," said IU East coach Billy Mullin, who was named the RSC Coach of the Year. "It's one thing to play in a conference championship. It's a whole other ordeal being in contention for one. I'm very proud of our players for rising to the occasion once again."

The Red Wolves are now set to compete in the NAIA National Championships at TPC Deere Run on May 14-17 in Silvis, Illinois.

In addition to the team victory, IU East's Brooklynn Cromwell collected a lot of hardware as she was named the RSC Golfer of the Year after earning the medalist honor with a three-day score of 78-78-76-232. Midway's Maryssa Phillips was second at 81-82-74-237.

"Just being a part of this team and being Brooklynn Cromwell's coach is such a blessing," Mullin said. "Brooklynn is our undisputed leader and nobody is more deserving of being conference champion. She is so smart and tough. It is such an advantage having her play for us."

Cromwell was also All-RSC First Team for the second time in her career, while being named to the RSC Champions of Character Team and a member of the All-RSC Scholar-Athlete Team.

"I played solid golf today and had a battle on the last few holes with Maryssa from Midway, who grinded all day," Cromwell said. "I was able to put the emotions aside and keep my focus until my last putt dropped. One of my biggest goals at IU East was to seal the deal as conference medalist and win as a team one last time and today that happened."

"It's been a heck of a ride and experience these last few years," Cromwell continued. "I'm beyond proud of everyone and grateful for my coaches. I'm excited for this team to go compete at nationals again."

Liv Sanders finished third on the individual leaderboard with an 83-80-82-245 as she picked up her second All-RSC First Team spot.

"We did what we needed to do today," Sanders said. "I'm very proud of everyone for grinding out there and staying strong."

"I'm also proud of Brooklynn these last couple of days and the success she has contributed to this team," Sanders added. "Putts were starting to drop for me today and I hope to keep that momentum going at nationals."

Katie Craig tied for eighth to earn All-RSC Second Team for IU East with a score of 81-91-84-256. Lainey Jackson ended in a tie for 15th for the Red Wolves with an 85-84-91-260 as she was on the All-RSC Third Team. Jalyn Bruns was 17th at 86-90-86-262.

"The team did a great job of keeping the 54-hole mindset and sticking to the game plan," Cromwell said. "Congrats to Lainey, Katie and Olivia on earning all-conference."

Craig and Bruns also joined Cromwell on the All-RSC Scholar-Athlete Team.

"Having four kids make all-conference is testament to their talent," Mullin said. "I'm fired up to take this team to nationals."

From a Historical standpoint, Cromwell is the third Red Wolf to be the RSC Golfer of the Year. Breanna Nowak was the first player in 2019 followed by Jo Wisecup in 2021.

The same three players are on IU East's conference medalist list with Nowak winning in 2016, 2018, 2019 and Wisecup in 2021. Nowak's first win was in the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.