Collegiate Update: Kemper, Taylor close out golf season at NAIA National Championships in Illinois

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Elizabeth Kemper closed out her golf season with a top-100 finish in the NAIA National Championships at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois.

Taylor closed out day one of the tournament on May 14 in fourth place with a 314 team score. Kemper, a Triton Central graduate, carded a 79 for the Trojans. However, Taylor faltered on day two, shooting 335, to miss the cut to the final two days of the tournament by three strokes.

Kemper shot 88 on day two to finish tied for 94th overall at 167.

The Trojans finished 18th overall and secured its sixth-straight top 20 finish at the NAIA national tournament.

Here is a look at other Shelby County graduates competing at the collegiate level.

Cory Taylor

The Shelbyville graduate had three hits, including a double, two stolen bases and two runs batted in Saturday in Eastern Michigan’s 9-8 loss at Northern Illinois that brought an end to the Eagles’ season.

Eastern Michigan was swept by Northern Illinois to close out the season with a 14-38 record.

Taylor finished the season with 49 hits, matching his 2023 total, and 39 RBI in 43 games – a career best and team-high for the season.

Charlie Rife

The Shelbyville graduate had two hits, including his sixth home run of the season, Saturday in game one of Bellarmine’s doubleheader against Queens University at Charlotte.

On Thursday, Rife had three walks in four at bats in Bellarmine’s 7-5 win over Queens.

The Knights won the series with a 6-4 victory Saturday in game two of the doubleheader and closed out the season with a 10-45 record.

Katie Mathies

The Shelbyville graduate had two hits, including a two-run home run, Saturday in DePauw’s 12-9 loss to Coe in the Division III softball regional in Greencastle, Indiana.

DePauw opened the regional Thursday with a 7-3 loss to Saint Mary’s (Minnesota).

On Friday, DePauw defeated Baldwin Wallace, 15-3. Mathies had a double and scored a run. The Tigers followed that with a 16-8 win over Saint Mary’s. Mathies had three walks and scored two runs.

With the loss to Coe, DePauw’s season came to an end with a 30-16-1 record.

Mathies was named All-North Coast Athletic Conference for the second year in a row.

Karissa Hamilton

The Shelbyville graduate had a pinch-hit single Saturday in Kentucky’s 6-2 loss at Oklahoma State in the Division I regional round tournament in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Kentucky’s season came to a conclusion Saturday with a 4-2 loss to Michigan. The Wildcats finished 31-24 this season.

Kylee Edwards

The Shelbyville graduate finished 0-for-3 at the plate Saturday in Mississippi State’s 7-0 loss to Cal State Fullerton in the Division I regional round tournament in Palo Alto, California.

The Bulldogs opened the regional with a 1-0 win over Cal State Fullerton before suffering a 2-1 loss to Stanford.

Mississippi State finished 34-20 this season.

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