JOPLIN, Mo. (April 26, 2024) – The Rend Lake College Lady Warriors outclassed the competition Tuesday at a gusty Twin Hills Golf & Country Club, winning the NJCAA DI Central District Tournament and punching their ticket to the national championship. With a commanding lead of 32 strokes over second-place John A. Logan, the Lady Warriors secured the program's first-ever Central District title and are now setting their sights on the five-day national tournament, May 19-23, at Duran GC in Melbourne, Fla.

Coach James Gray and the Lady Warriors proudly display their NJCAA DI Central District Championship hardware at Twin Hills Country Club in Joplin, Mo. on April 23, 2024. From left, are; Marni Copeland, Kenzie Anderson, Gray, Josie Walker and Kaitlyn Coombes. Click on the image for a larger version.  

Sophomore Marni Copeland (Cardigan, Wales) put together stellar performances on the back nine both days, and tied for third with an 85-88-173. It was instrumental in securing victory for the team.

Marni Copeland

"Marni has been great on the greens and fairways throughout the season," said RLC Coach James Gray. "She has been a consistent source of strength and leadership for us, and I am very proud of her. I'm proud of all our girls." 

Kenzie Anderson	Josie Walker	Kaitlyn Coombes

Sophomore Kenzie Anderson (Iuka, 88-92-180) and freshman Josie Walker (Massac County, 88-93-181) also made significant contributions to the team's success, finishing in the top 10 at T6 and 8th place, respectively. Their outstanding play under pressure has been pivotal in The Lake's run this season. See full schedule here. Rounding off the leaderboard for The Lake — freshman Kaitlyn Coombes (Paris, Ill., 93-97-190) finished 11th.  

Gray expressed immense pride in the team's achievement. "We're going to celebrate this one and then get right back to work. We just want everyone back in Ina to know that we are excited to be able to represent Rend Lake College at nationals here in about a month. I am confident in what this team is capable of. They can perform at the highest level."

For more information and updates on the Rend Lake College Lady Warriors' journey through the nationals, please visit rendlakewarriors.com or Warriors Twitter and Facebook.

About Rend Lake College: Rend Lake College is committed to providing high-quality education and athletic programs in Southern Illinois. Offering a diverse range of courses and extracurricular activities, the college aims to empower students to achieve their academic and athletic goals.

Contact Information: James Gray Head Women's Golf Coach, Rend Lake College Email: grayja@rlc.edu Phone: 618-437-5321, Ext. 1318

Looking to play golf for the Lady Warriors? Get recruited here. 

-END-