By Tim Glon
www.onusports.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ill.—The Ohio Northern women's golf team braved inclement weather conditions to move up one spot to sixth place out of 16 teams in the final nine holes of the 36-hole Illinois Wesleyan Spring Fling on Sunday morning at Ironwood Golf Course.
The Polar Bears (71-11 overall) carded a 315-328—643 in the tournament which includes seven teams ranked in the top 25 and 12 ranked in the top 50 nationally.
No. 12 Saint Catherine (Minn.) won the team crown with a tournament record-tying 601.
No. 3 Washington (Mo.) was second with a 606, No. 13 Illinois Wesleyan was third with a 608, No. 1 Emory (Ga.) was fourth with a 612 and No. 23 Wisconsin-Whitewater was fifth with a 641.
Ohio Northern, who is ranked No. 34 nationally, finished ahead of No. 22 Grinnell (Iowa) by 15 shots and No. 24 Christopher Newport (Va.) by 20 shots.
Sophomore Amelia Burger (Centerville) led the Polar Bears with an 11-over par 155 to finish tied for 16th out of 110 golfers.
Freshman Marisa Alfes (Bellbrook) tied for 25th with a 15-over par 79-80—159 and junior Grace Honigford (West Chester/Lakota East) tied for 29th place with a 17-over par 77-84—161.
Sophomore Rhianna Firmstone (Moon Township, Pa./Moon Area) tied for 52nd with an 84-84—168 and senior Isabella Orofino (Powell/Olentangy Liberty) tied for 74th with an 85-88—173.
The teams played 27 holes on Saturday in anticipation of inclement weather on Sunday. The scores went up on Sunday morning due to the poor weather.
Sydney Kuo of Washington and Macy Ludwig of Illinois Wesleyan tied for Medalist honors with a tournament records of 146.
The Polar Bears have finished their regular season and will next compete at the Ohio Athletic Conference Championships April 21-23 at River Greens Golf Course in West Lafayette, Ohio.
Team Standings
1. #12 Saint Catherine (Minn.) 304-297—601, 2. #3 Washington (Mo.) 299-307—606, 3. #13 Illinois Wesleyan 303-305—608, 4. #1 Emory (Ga.) 295-317—612, 4. 5. #23 Wisconsin-Whitewater 310-331—641, 6. Ohio Northern 315-328—643, 7. Rose-Hulman (Ind.) 313-343—646, 8. #22 Grinnell (Iowa) 318-340—658, 9. #24 Christopher Newport (Va.) 322-341—663, 10. Central (Iowa) 326-344—670, 11. Aurora (Ill.) 337-336—673, 12. Augustana (Ill.) 333-341—674, t13. DePauw (Ind.) 329-346—675, t13. Illinois College 326-349—675, 15. Millikin (Ill.) 343-363—706, 16. Carthage (Wis.) 359-371—730.
Top 5 Individuals
t1. Sydney Kuo (Washington) 72-74—146, t1. Macy Ludwig (Illinois Wesleyan) 76-70—146, 3. Morgan Anderson (Saint Catherine) 75-72—147, 4. Lexi Onsrud (Illinois Wesleyan) 76-73—149, t5. Kyra Venne (Saint Catherine) 77-73—150, t5. Ellen Dong (Emory) 71-79—150.
Ohio Northern Individual Results
t16. Amelia Burger 75-80—155, t25. Marisa Alfes 79-80—159, t29. Grace Honigford 77-84—161, t52. Rhianna Firmstone 84-84—168, t74. Isabella Orofino 85-88—173.
