DeLand, Fla. ? The Stetson women's golf team was bested in a dual match by the University of Iowa on Saturday afternoon at Victoria Hills Country Club in the first competition of the spring for both schools.  The Hawkeyes recorded a 24 over par team score of 312 to defeat the Hatters by five strokes.  Senior Christine Fraser (Kingston, Ont.) and junior Danielle Jackson (Seminole Fla.) each shot 78 to lead Stetson.

Also competing for Stetson in the dual match were junior Lauren Darnell (Gainesville, Ga.), freshman Lauren Cate (St. Augustine, Fla.) and junior Lauren Bryan (Valparaiso, Ind.).  Darnell shot 80, Cate fired an 81 and Bryan carded an 86 in her first competition of the 2008-09 season.

Tyrette Metzendorf, the third place finisher at the 2008 Big Ten Championships, led Iowa to the win with a one over par 73.  Becky Quinby added a 75, Brianna Coopman shot 84 and Alison Cavanaugh carded an 84.  Iowa's discarded score was 89, recorded by Laura Cilek.

“Obviously I'm disappointed we didn't get the win and I know we're capable of playing much better than we showed,” Head Coach Floyd Kerr said.  “However, we've got a long spring season ahead of us and I know we'll bounce back.”

The Hatters play their first full-field tournament next Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 23-24 at the Jacksonville Invitational.  Hidden Hills Country Club in Jacksonville, Fla. is the venue for the event, which is set to include several Atlantic Sun conference squads including hosts Jacksonville, Campbell and FGCU as well as Stetson.  Florida Atlantic, Bethune-Cookman and Troy are also scheduled to compete.