NASHPORT, Ohio -- The Kent State University women's golf team won the 2007 Mid-American Conference Championships Sunday (April 29) at the Longaberger Golf Club in Nashport, Ohio, the team's ninth title in as many years.

The Golden Flashes rolled to victory, finishing 49 strokes ahead of second-place Eastern Michigan University. Finishing at 51-over par with a total score of 1,203, KSU collectively shot a final-round score of 305 to go along with Friday (April 27) scores of 305 and 397 and a Saturday (April 28) score of 296.

"This was a total team performance," said head coach Mike Morrow. "Everybody contributed. That's a tribute to them to step up in such a big tournament. Each year is a new challenge. We're trying to get better and all the teams in the MAC are trying to catch us."

All five of the Golden Flashes' linksters finished in the top 10, with junior Kira Meixner capturing MAC Medalist honors for the first time. Kent State has had one of its own capture individual championships eight of the past nine years at the MAC Championships. 

Meixner wrapped up her crown by finishing seven-over par with a total of 295 despite shooting her highest score of the event -- a 77 -- over the final 18 holes. The Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, native carded scores of 71, 74 and 73 in the previous three rounds.

Finishing four strokes behind Meixner at 11-over par was classmate and 2006 MAC Medalist Tara Delaney, who scored a 77 Sunday to bring her total to 299. Behind previous round scores of 75, 74 and 71, Delaney stayed in hot pursuit of Meixner until the end.

Maddi Swaney broke out of a fifth-place tie with classmate Kirby Dreher to take fourth-place at her first MAC Championships. Swaney's final-round 74 bested Dreher's 77. The final 18 holes were Swaney's best of the event after totaling rounds of 80, 75 and 76, putting her at 17-over par with a total of 305. Dreher finished at 20-over par with a total of 308, carding scores of 81, 74 and 76 earlier in the weekend.

After entering the final day in a tie for 11th place, Karen Delaney totaled a 77 in the final round -- her lowest of the event -- to take ninth place. Delaney's top-10 finish came after sandwiching a score of 81 between two 79s, good enough for 28-over par and a final score of 316.

In addition to dominating the field, the Kent State linksters dotted the MAC awards list. Tara Delaney took MAC Golfer of the Year honors for the second year in a row and was an All-Tournament and First Team All-MAC selection. Meixner, Swaney and Dreher were also named All-Tournament selections. Meixner and Dreher captured First Team All-MAC honors along with Delaney, while Swaney was named an All-MAC Second Team selection.

Kent State will receive an automatic bid to the 2007 National Collegiate Athletic Association Championships Central Regionals, which are slated to take place May 10-12 at the University of Michigan Golf Club in Ann Arbor, Mich. The field for the 2007 NCAA Championships will be revealed early next week. Last year, the Golden Flashes took sixth place with a total score of 919 at the 2006 NCAA Central Regionals (May 11-13, 2006), allowing them to advance to the 2006 NCAA Championships.

"We have plenty of talent to make it (to the 2007 NCAA Championships). We just have to play golf for three rounds and everything should be fine," said Morrow.

2007 Mid-American Conference Championships

April 27-29, 2007 · Nashport, Ohio 

Course: Longaberger Golf Club (Par 72 – 6,149 yards)

TEAM SCORES: 1. Kent State +51 (1203), 2. Eastern Michigan +100 (1252), 3. Western Michigan +119 (1271), 4. Toledo +149 (1301), 5. Ohio +151 (1303), 6. Ball State +181 (1333), 7. Bowling Green State +183 (1335), Northern Illinois +188 (1340)

TOP THREE INDIVIDUAL SCORES: 1. Kira Meixner, Kent State +7 (295), 2. Tara Delaney, Kent State +11 (299), 3. Catherine Fortin, Eastern Michigan +16 (304)

KENT STATE INDIVIDUAL SCORES: 1. Kira Meixner +7 (295), 2. Tara Delaney +11 (299), 4. Maddi Swaney +17 (305), 5. Kirby Dreher +20 (308), 9. Karen Delaney +28 (316)