Grace Honigford fires a second round 77 to keep Women's Golf in hunt for OAC Championships title
By Tim Glon
WEST LAFAYETTE — Sophomore Grace Honigford (West Chester/Lakota East) fired a 5-over par 77 to lead Ohio Northern on the second day of the 2022 Ohio Athletic Conference Women's Golf Tournament on Saturday at River Greens Golf Course.
The Polar Bears (68-13 overall) entered the day trailing Otterbein by five strokes after carding a 327 on the first day of the three-day event on Friday.
Northern saw its deficit grow to as many as 14 shots during the early going, but battled back to finish with a 324 to match OU's 324 on the day and will enter Sunday's final round five shots back of the lead.
Otterbein is in first place with a 322-324—646, Ohio Northern is second with a 327-324—651 and Mount Union is third with a 355-361—716 in the nine-team field.
All five of ONU's golfers will enter the final round in the top nine in the standings, led by Honigford in third place with an 83-77—160.
Junior Isabella Orofino (Powell/Olentangy Liberty) and senior Karlee Staugler (Saint Henry) are tied for fifth out of 45 golfers with 164s.
Freshmen Amelia Burger (Centerville) is seventh with a 166 and Rhianna Firmstone (Moon Township, Pa./Moon Area) is tied for ninth with a 168.
Otterbein's Lyndsay Blum leads the individual standings with a 76-80—156.
The top 14 individuals earn All-Conference honors and the team champion earns the league's automatic bid to the NCAA III Championships May 10-13 at Bay Oaks Country Club in Houston, Tex.
The third and final round will be held Sunday with flighted tee times beginning at 10 am.
Ohio Northern won the 2021 title with a conference record 990 for 54 holes.
Team Standings
1. Otterbein 322-324—646, 2. Ohio Northern 327-324—651, 3. Mount Union 355-361—716, 4. Muskingum 360-357—717, 5. Baldwin Wallace 368-378—752, 6. John Carroll 377-375—752, 7. Heidelberg 382-375—757, 8. Marietta 383-377—760, 9. Capital 383-381—764.
Top 14 Individual Results (Top 14 finishers earn All-OAC honors)
1. Lyndsay Blum (Ott) 76-80—156, 2. Rachel Hatley (Ott) 80-79—159, 3. Grace Honigford (ONU) 83-77—160, 4. Jackie Adler (Ott) 82-81—163, t5. Karlee Staugler (ONU) 84-80—164, t5. Isabella Orofino (ONU) 82-82—164, 7. Amelia Burger (ONU) 81-85—166, 8. Lexi Bubenchik (Mar) 85-82—167, t9. Rhianna Firmstone (ONU) 81-87—168, t9. Emma McGreal (Ott) 84-84—168, 11. Mattie Muckelroy (MtU) 84-86—170, 12. Allison Jurkovic (Musk) 86-85—171, 13. Madison Gruber (MtU) 88-87—175, t14. Ericka Mrano (Musk) 89-90—179, t14. Jennifer Crowley (JCU) 91-88—179.
Ohio Northern Individual Results
3. Grace Honigford 83-77—160, t5. Karlee Staugler 84-80—164, t5. Isabella Orofino 82-82—164, t37 Amelia Burger 81-85—166t9. Rhianna Firmstone (ONU) 81-87—168.