By Daniel Kerwin

Mac golfer Jordan Matheson ’09 headed down to the Carleton Invitational last weekend determined to bolster her chances of qualifying for the NCAA Division III championships. She certainly took a huge step in the right direction, winning the tournament with a two-day total of 156 at Northfield Golf Club.Matheson put herself in a good position after the first day of the tournament, firing a 78 to put her in a two-way tie for second place with St. Thomas’ Laura Heck, just two strokes behind leader Jessica Urban of UW-Stevens Point. Matheson then proceeded to shoot a second consecutive 78, catapulting her above Urban for a one shot victory in the tournament.

This was Matheson’s second career tournament victory playing for Macalester. Matheson won the Minnesota state tournament during the spring of her sophomore year.

Matheson has had her sights set on qualifying for nationals since the beginning of the season. She is currently right in the hunt for one of six individual slots, with the Carleton Invitational placing her anywhere between third and seventh in the pool.

It wouldn’t be the first time Matheson has been to nationals if she qualifies. She qualified for nationals last spring, along with teammate Karla Leon ’10, placing 13th in the tournament.

This weekend Matheson is playing in the St. Thomas Invitational and will again look to improve her chances of qualifying for nationals. The course that she will be playing is the same course that she won the Minnesota state tournament on during her sophomore year, so it is a course that she knows she can be successful on.

The NCAA Division III golf national championships will be held May 13-16 in Port St. Lucie, Fla.