Mercedes Germino

Germino posts team low in final round; Ha finishes tied for 11^th

GOLF, Ill. – The Kent State women's golf team battled fierce competition at the Windy City Collegiate Classic, as the Golden Flashes wrapped up the two-day event Tuesday at Glen View Club, hosted by Northwestern.

The Golden Flashes finished tied for ninth in the 15-team field, which included 11 top 50 programs and top-ranked Texas. Kent State was three strokes away from a tie for fourth place; just 10 strokes separated fourth-place TCU and 14^th-place Iowa State.

"This was a great tournament, and overall, we did some good things, but there are some areas we need to get better," said head coach Mike Morrow. "It was a really close tournament. Having all of those teams so close in the standings shows the parity in college golf. Every team here learned a good lesson: every stroke matters."

Senior Mercedes Germino (Necochea, Argentina) turned in Kent State's lowest score during Tuesday's final round, as a birdie on the par-3 No. 14 helped her finish with a two-over 74.

Freshman Jennifer Ha (Calgary, Alberta) and senior Mandi Morrow (Kent, Ohio) each shot even par on the back nine on Tuesday, finishing with matching four-over 76s in the final round. Ha completed the tournament tied for 11^th overall, while Morrow placed tied for 42^nd.

Senior Shamira Marshall (Macedonia, Ohio) was even par through her first 13 holes, bolstered by a birdie on the par-5 No. 6 before settling in for a four-over 76. Marshall finished the tournament, tying for 31^st overall.

Sophomore Erin Hawe (Walton, New Zealand) couldn't keep momentum from an early birdie on the par-4 No. 3, finishing with a seven-over 79. Hawe finished tied for 59^th overall.

Playing as an unattached individual, junior Jackie Yanch (Barrie, Ontario) had four birdies in her final round Tuesday and finished with a four-over 76, placing her 74^th overall.

Oklahoma State captured their second team title in as many tournaments, edging second-place Arizona by one stroke.

Kent State is back in action Oct. 14-16, when the Golden Flashes continue their challenging fall schedule at the Stanford Intercollegiate at the Stanford Golf Course in Stanford, Calif.