ST. CHARLES, Mo. – In conditions where survival was as difficult as scoring, the Drake University women's golf team managed to make the most of its opportunities in brutal weather to move up two sports on the leaderboard in the final round of the Missouri Valley Championship. The Bulldogs finished the two-day, three-round event in fifth place at 313-319-327 – 959.
 
The fifth-place finish matches the Bulldogs' finish in 2019 for the highest finish by the program since 2011.
 
With temperatures in the mid 30s, the teams were plagued not only by the cold and wind, but rounds that finished with snow accumulating on the greens. However, Drake fared better than most in recording the third-lowest team score on the day and just one stroke off the best team round in the grueling conditions.
 
Haeri Lee led Drake with a final round 79 that tied for the third-best round of the day. She was one of just six golfers who managed to overcome Mother Nature to break 80. Her final round moved her into a tie for eight at 74-81-79 – 234.
 
Sam Paulak had Drake's second-best round at 80 to move into a tie for 25^th.
 
Kristen Giles also earned a top-18 finish at 78-78-84 – 240 and newcomer Aauyshi Sarkar finised tied for 22^nd in her first MVC event at 82-78-84 – 244.
 
Evansville won the team title in a sudden-death playoff after UNI stormed back from 10-strokes down to challenge the Aces. Both teams finished with team scores 942.
 
The Championship was contested at the par-71, 5,987-yard Bogey Hills Country Club in St. Charles, Mo.  
 
5. Drake, 313-319-327 – 959
T8. Haeri Lee, 74-81-79  – 234
T17. Kristen Giles, 78-78-84 – 240
T22. Aauyshi Sarkar, 82-78-84 – 244
T25. Sam Paulak, 83-82 – 80 – 245
42. Abby Marting, 79-83-95 – 257