Senior Grace Honigford named OAC Women’s Golfer of the Week for fifth time this season

By Wes Mayberry

ADA — Ohio Northern senior Grace Honigford (West Chester/Lakota East) was named the Ohio Athletic Conference Women's Golfer of the Week for the week of Oct. 10-17.

This marks Honigford's fifth such accolade this season and the 15th of her career.

The latest recognition comes after her record-breaking performance in the Golfweek NCAA Division III October Classic at Baytowne Golf Club in Miramar Beach, Fla. The three-round event, which took place from Sunday through Tuesday, marked the premier tournament in Division III this fall, as 21 of the 24 teams in the field are either ranked or receiving votes in the Women's Golf Coaches Association national poll.

Honigford finished the tournament with a 7-over-par 74-76-73—223 on the 5,618-yard course, breaking her previous school record 54-hole score by eight shots. She tied for 12th place out of 119 golfers individually.

As a team, the Polar Bears shot a 315-319-310—944 for 54 holes to finished 19th. The 944 bested the previous school record for 54 holes by 17 strokes.

ONU finished seven shots ahead of No. 18 Sewanee (Tenn.) and just one shot behind No. 24 Wisconsin-Whitewater.

Additionally, Northern defeated California Lutheran and Oglethorpe (Ga.), both of which are receiving votes in the WGCA poll.

The Polar Bears have now completed their fall schedule, posting a record of 24-18 with first-place finishes in four of five events. Honigford earned Medalist honors in all four of those events.

A College Sports Communicators Second Team Academic All-American last season, Honigford boasts a 73.2 stroke average over 10 rounds of play this fall.

Northern's spring schedule will be announced later this winter.