Methodist University erased a four-shot deficit on the final day of the NCAA Division III Women's Golf National Championship in May and scored its 26th Championship.

“To say I am excited is an understatement,” said head women’s golf coach Tom Inczauskis as his team was greeted on campus by students, faculty and staff after the long trip from East Lansing, Mich.

“I am so proud of the players and all they’ve overcome during this COVID-impacted school year and athletic season.”

Combined with the success of the men’s golf team, which finished as the national runners-up, the MU women brought home the Monarch’s 38th national championship in golf.

The women’s team — consisting of Ingrid Steingrimsen, Jillian Drinkard, Paige Church, Maggie Williams and Abby Bloom, and led by Inczauskis and assistant coach Brock White — took over second place from George Fox University with Day 2’s tournament-low round of 300, inching to within one stroke of leader Carnegie Mellon University.

CMU extended that narrow margin to four strokes but was unable to hold off Methodist in the final round.

The deficit was down to a single stroke after three holes, was erased on No. 4 and tilted in Methodist’s favor on the par-4 sixth hole, when the Monarchs played the hole in even par while CMU played it in three over.

That three-stroke advantage grew to as many as six before Methodist settled for a five-stroke victory and its national title.

“I can’t thank the team enough for all their hard work, sacrifice and days on the road,” added Inczauskis. “They came together as a team. They played their best golf when they needed it most. They stayed upbeat and positive throughout the event. I hope they enjoy the moment with their families, friends and supporters. They had one of the greatest seasons in Methodist women’s golf history and I look forward to our future successes together.”

At Oglebay Golf Resort in Wheeling, W.Va., the MU men’s golf team took home second place in the national championship tournament. A pair of Methodist golfers — Cooper Hrabak and Andre Chi — finished in the Top 5 in individual scoring.

Hrabak ended in a two-way tie for second place. That is the highest finish by a Methodist golfer in the NCAA championships since Jeff Wells in 2015. Chi finished in a two-way tie for fourth place and just one stroke back of Hrabak.

Methodist secured its spot in second place early in Round 4, then finished 11 strokes ahead of third-place Guilford College, falling short of Illinois Wesleyan University for the title by 13 strokes. The MU men’s golf team’s most recent NCAA Championship was in 2018.

You can find additional information on the women’s and men’s championship matches at mumonarchs.com