Women's Golf moves up to seventh of 17 teams in final round of loaded Berry (Ga.) Chik-fil-A Invitational
By Tim Glon
ROME, Ga. —The Ohio Northern women's golf team moved up one spot to finish seventh out of 17 teams in the final round of the Berry (Ga.) Chik-fil-A Invitational on Tuesday at the Coosa Country Club.
The Polar Bears (52-11 overall) finished with a final round 324 after a solid first round of 332 to finish with a 656.
No. 4-ranked Methodist (N.C.) won the team title with a 293-287—580, No. 14 Berry (Ga.) was second with a 300-304—604, NCAA Division II Shorter (Ga.) was third with a 296-314—610, No. 21 Denison was fourth with a 309-315—624 and Division II Coker (Tenn.) was fifth with a 327-315—642.
Sophomore Grace Honigford (West Chester/Lakota East) tied for 24th out of 97 women with an 16-over par 80-80—160. After another slow start, Honigford shot a blistering 3-under par on her final six holes, including an eagle-2 on the 14th hole.
She also had a slow start in Monday's first round with a quadruple-bogey 9 on the second hole, but bounced back to shot four over par over the final 16 holes.
Honigford finished tied for 13th out of the 18 ladies that are ranked in the top 150 in GolfStat NCAA Division II and III in the tournament.
Freshman Rhianna Firmstone (Moon Township, Pa./Moon Area) improved eight places with a final round 79 to tie for 35th with an 85-79—164, finishing ahead of three of the 18 ranked ladies.
Sophomore Isabella Orofino (Powell/Olentangy Liberty) moved up two spots to finish tied for 38th with an 84-81—165.
Freshman Amelia Burger (Centerville) tied for 43rd with an 83-84—167 and senior Karlee Staugler (Saint Henry) tied for 63rd with an 86-91—177.
Fourth-ranked Jillian Drinkard (Methodist) won Medalist honors with a 5-under par 70-69—139.
Ohio Northern's spring schedule will be announced later this winter.
Team Standings
1. #4 Methodist (N.C.) 293-287—580, 2. #14 Berry (Ga.) 300-304—604, 3. Shorter (Ga.) 296-314—610, 4. #21 Denison 309-315—624, 5. Coker (Tenn.) 327315—642, 6. Sewanee (Tenn.) 328-324—652, 7. Ohio Northern 332-324—656, 8. Coastal Georgia 329-335—664, t9. Oglethorpe (Ga.) 332-336—668, t9. Huntingdon (Va.) 337-331—668, 11. Berry "B" 351-340—691, 12. Southern Virginia 347-349—696, 13. Millsaps (Miss.) 348-352—700, 14. Piedmont (Ga.) 353-352—705, 15. Maryville (Tenn.) 372-367—739, 16. Birmingham Southern (Ala.) 383-396—779, 17. Randolph-Macon (Ga.) 386-411—797.
Top 5 Individual Results
1. #4 Jillian Drinkard (Methodist) 70-69—139, 2. #25 Bailey Plourde (Berry) 72-68—140, 3. #17 Ingrid Steingrimsen (Methodist) 73-69—142, 4. Abigail Cheney (Shorter) 71-75—146, 5. #38 Ava Lucas (Methodist) 74-73—147.
Ohio Northern Individual Results
t24. Grace Honigford 80-80—160, t35. Rhianna Firmstone 85-79—164, t38. Isabella Orofino 84-81—165, t43. Amelia Burger 83-84—167, t63. Karlee Staugler 86-91—177.