Women’s Golf Holds Fast for Second-Place Finish at Lady Buckeye Invite
Morrow jumps to third overall with best round of the day; Germino places eighth as the Flashes fend off foes
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Kent State women's golf team couldn't be happier with its play heading into the 2011 Mid-American Conference Championship next weekend, even though the scores may not have reflected the team's steadfast play.
The Golden Flashes posted a team score of 314 Sunday afternoon, the second-best team round among 12 teams in the final round of the Lady Buckeye Spring Invitational, hosted by Ohio State University at the Scarlet Course.
Junior Mandi Morrow (Kent, Ohio) turned in the day's best round of the day, with a three-over 75. Her effort was two strokes better than the rest of the field on a day where the weather challenged the 75-player field with gusting winds that surpassed 35 miles an hour.
Morrow, who carded 10 straight pars to open Sunday's round, finished two strokes out of first place with a 12-over 228. Michigan State's Caroline Powers finished with a 10-over 226 to capture medalist honors.
"Even though the scores didn't seem to show it, we are very happy with the second-place finish against strong field this weekend," said head coach Mike Morrow. "Playing on a great golf course and battling cold weather and 30 mile-an-hour winds was a great challenge for everyone today, and I am happy with how we handled it."
Junior Mercedes Germino (Necochea, Argentina) turned in a six-over 78 on Sunday, moving up to a tie for eighth place. Germino had 12 pars with six bogeys on the day and had a solid one-over 37 on the front nine.
Senior Martina Gavier (Cordoba, Argentina) posted an eight-over 80 to finish tied for 21st overall.
New Zealanders Sarah Bradley (Cambridge, New Zealand) and Erin Hawe (Walton, New Zealand) paired with nine-over 81s. Senior Bradley finished tied for 37th while freshman Hawe tied for 42nd.
Although junior Shamira Marshall (Macedonia, Ohio) posted an 86 on Sunday, she finished tied for 28th overall and fourth for the Golden Flashes.
Kent State seniors McKenzie Jackson (Uniontown, Ohio) and Christina Thomas (Rocky River, Ohio) played as unattached individuals. Jackson finished tied for 21st with a 239 while Thomas placed 71st with a 270.
Michigan State captured the team title with a 17-stroke lead over Kent State. The Golden Flashes finished four strokes ahead of third-place Wisconsin and six strokes in front of the host school, Ohio State.
Kent State will begin its defense of 12 consecutive Mid-American Conference titles April 22-24 at Longaberger Golf Club for the 2011 MAC Championship.
