AMES, Iowa - The University of Dubuque women’s golf team won their second consecutive American Rivers Conference Championship on Monday afternoon, posting a three-day total of 961 to win by 13 strokes.

With winds near 30 miles per hour again, it was a grind from the opening tee on the final day. Brooke Bunjes got the Spartans off to a hot start as she holed-in from 100 yards out on the second hole for an early eagle. Bunjes carried that momentum through the rest of the front, shooting even par through nine to vault all the way up to third place in the individual standings. Madison Bowers held her individual lead through nine holes and her teammate Daniela Miranda posted a +4 on the front to put herself in second place to give the Spartans the top-three individuals with nine holes remaining.

The Spartan lead hung between 10-15 strokes all day, with the Spartans always answering the bell when needed and never let a team get too close. Madison Bowers sank the final putt of the day to seal the 2020 American Rivers Conference Title for the Spartans, their second conference title in as many years.

On a day with a lot of up and down performances, Daniela Miranda was steady for the entire 18. After tying for first place in 2018 as a sophomore before falling in a playoff, Miranda would not be denied as a senior. She would shoot just two-over on the back nine to finish seven over par for the final round, sinking a bogey putt on 18 to give her a total score of 235 (+22) and the University of Dubuque’s first conference medalist since 1983. 

“Daniela (Miranda) was my first recruit at UD,” said Bierman. “With the work that she has put in, this is no surprise and I could not be happier for her. She has been the rock of our program for the last four years and now she is a champion.”

Madison Bowers and Brooke Bunjes also grabbed All-Conference honors for the Spartans. Bowers finished tied for third with a score of 240 (+27) and the freshman Bunjes grabbed a seventh place finish with a 242 (+29). 

Coutney Olson finished just outside of the top-ten, carding a 250 (+37) to share 11th place and Mary Edwards posted an 85 on Monday for a total score of 254 (+41) and a 13th place finish.

Team Standings
1 Dubuque 309 325 327 961 +109 
2 Wartburg 318 329 327 974 +122 
3 Luther 335 342 334 1011 +159 
4 Central 333 343 344 1020 +168 
5 Buena Vista 364 361 365 1090 +238 
6 Simpson 365 369 384 1118 +266 
7 Nebraska Wesleyan 384 364 376 1124 +272

Dubuque 309 325 327 961 +109 1st 
Daniela Miranda 77 80 78 235 +22 1st 
Madison Bowers 74 80 86 240 +27 4th 
Brooke Bunjes 80 83 79 242 +29 7th 
Courtney Olson 78 87 85 250 +37 t-11th 
Mary Edwards 87 82 85 254 +41 13th