The University of Redlands women's golf produced its best round of the 2021 NCAA Division III Championships on Thursday to move into fifth place with a 54-hole score of 959 (325-319-315).

Amidst beautiful conditions at the Forest Akers West Golf Course in East Lansing, Michigan, first-year Iris Liu (Diamond Bar, CA) posted a team-low 74 with four birdies and eight pars during the third round.  She began the outing with a 25-footer for birdie on the par-three hole #1.  She also dropped in a 12-foot putt on hole #8 and a 10-footer on hole #15.  By the end of the round, she had climbed seven spots to move into third place in the individual standings for an already impressive showing at her NCAA debut.  Among the tournament field, she ranks second on the par fours with an average of 4.20.

First-year Gabrielle Kiger (Hermosa Beach, CA) also fired off her best round of the national tournament by carding a 77 with 14 pars.  She made six up-and-downs to save par, including three in a row on holes #15-17.  As a result, she elevated her position on the individual leaderboard by 19 slots to tie-for-53rd with one round remaining.

Junior Kendall Nicholson (Bellevue, WA) tallied an 81 with 10 pars and sits in a tie for 19th overall.  Sophomore Hannah Jugar (Chula Vista, CA) entered the clubhouse with an 83, while first-year Andrea York (Oakdale, CA) closely followed with an 84.

Overall, the Bulldogs own 129 pars and 15 birdies over the three days.

Redlands is one of 15 teams to make the cut for the final day of the NCAA Championships, which wraps up on Friday, May 14. The Bulldogs tee off among the second group of schools, beginning at 5:50 a.m. PDT.  Fans may follow the action at GolfStat.com.