DAVENPORT, Iowa - The Ashford University women's golf team was finally able to hit the links and didn't disappoint in its fall opener, earning runner-up honors at the Augustana Lady Viking Fall Classic on Thursday. The Saints shot a 353 (+65) collectively as a team, finishing just 14 strokes off the winning pace.

Junior NAIA National Qualifier Jordan Davis of Delmar picked up right where she left off in the spring, claiming individual medalist honors in the 53-player field by shooting a 7-over-par 79.

The Saints' originally scheduled an appearance at the Mt. Mercy Invitational in late August, but rain postponed the tournament and was later cancelled when a school withdrew from the field.

"I thought it was a good way to start out the fall season, especially since we were able to get second out of nine teams," AU Head Coach Josh Davis said. "We've had a couple good weeks of practice leading up to today and our freshmen overcame some opening-round jitters to play very solid in their first meet."

Davis, the reigning Midwest Collegiate Conference individual champion, tied for 36th this spring in Rapid City, S.D., becoming the first golfer in school history, male or female, to advance to the NAIA National Championships.

"Jordan had a triple bogey on No. 10 so her score could have been a lot different," Josh Davis said. "She was hitting it well and maybe the putting wasn't the best, but after what she accomplished last year, it's great for her to come out and take top honors in her first meet."

Sophomore Brittany Boon (82) of Bloomington, Ill., was just three strokes off the pace set by Davis, tying for third with Coe College's Jackie Lerdal. Boon was an Honorable Mention All-Conference selection in 2008 after she finished eighth at the conference meet.

Davis' trio of recruited freshmen in state qualifiers Megan Wagner (93) of Preston, Alanna Harris (99) of Bloomington-Normal, Ill., and Ashley Crawford (102) of Rockford, Ill., all made significant contributions in their collegiate debuts. Wagner tied for 18th with four other individuals.

"Our goal coming in was to shoot a 350 and we were awfully close," Davis added. "There is still a lot of room to improve and we'll continue to work hard in practice."

St. Ambrose University (339) claimed the team title on their home course at Emeis G.C. while the Fighting Bees' Caitlin Childers (80) finished solo second behind AU's Davis.

The Saints have a full day of rest before hitting the road on Saturday to compete at the Monmouth College Invitational in Monmouth, Ill.