Women's Golf rallies in final round to force a playoff, but falls by one stroke at 2022 OAC Women's Golf Championships
By Tim Glon
WEST LAFAYETTE — Sophomore Grace Honigford (West Chester/Lakota East) birdied the 18th hole to force a playoff, but Otterbein edged Ohio Northern 18-19 in the first playoff hole to claim the 2022 Ohio Athletic Conference Women's Golf Tournament title on Sunday at River Greens Golf Course.
The Polar Bears (75-14 overall) entered the day trailing Otterbein by five strokes after carding a 327-324—651 on the first two days of the three-day event on Friday and Saturday.
Northern saw its deficit grow to as many as 11 shots during the early going on Sunday morning, but battled back to get within one stroke with only Honigford's final hole to play.
Honigford's clutch birdie, her third of the tournament, got ONU even with OU and forced the playoff. She knocked her third shot to within five feet of the pin and made the putt for the birdie on the par-5 hole.
Each of the team's five players played the first hole, with the top four scores counting, to break the tiebreaker. Otterbein won 18-19 to claim the league's automatic bid to the NCAA III Championships May 10-13 at Bay Oaks Country Club in Houston, Tex.
Honigford's birdie also got her a tie for Medalist honors, as she overcame an 8-shot deficit just four holes into the final round. She finished with a final round 76 for a 54-hole 83-77-76—236 to tie with Otterbein's Lyndsay Blum for Medalist honors.
Her 236 tied her own school record effort as she won Medalist honors as a freshman in 2021.
All five of ONU's golfers earned All-Conference honors, finishing in the top 10 in the 45-woman field.
Freshmen Amelia Burger (Centerville) fired a final round 81 to move up two spots and finish fifth with an 81-81-81—247.
Senior Karlee Staugler (Saint Henry) was sixth with an 84-80-84—248, freshman Rhianna Firmstone (Moon Township, Pa./Moon Area) tied for eighth with an 81-87-82—250 and junior Isabella Orofino (Powell/Olentangy Liberty) tied for 10th with an 82-82-87—251.
All five players recorded 54 hole scores that are in the top 10 all-time in ONU history.
The top 14 individuals earn All-Conference honors.
Both Ohio Northern and Otterbein set the OAC Championships record by 16 shots with 974s, as ONU won the 2021 title with a then-conference record 990 for 54 holes.
Team Standings
t1*. Otterbein 322-324-328—974, t1. Ohio Northern 327-324-323—974, 3. Mount Union 355-361-342—1058, 4. Muskingum 360-357-353—1070, 5. Baldwin Wallace 368-378-362—1108, 6. Heidelberg 382-375-379—1136, t7. John Carroll 377-375-386—1138, t7. Capital 383-381-374—1138, 9. Marietta 383-377-379—1139.
Top 14 Individual Results (Top 14 finishers earn All-OAC honors)
t1. Grace Honigford (ONU) 83-77-76—236, t1. Lyndsay Blum (Ott) 76-80-80—236, 3. Rachel Hatley (Ott) 80-79-86—245, 4. Jackie Adler (Ott) 82-81-83—246, 5. Amelia Burger (ONU) 81-85-81—247, 6. Karlee Staugler (ONU) 84-80-84—248, 7. Emma McGreal (Ott) 84-84-81—249, t8. Rhianna Firmstone (ONU) 81-87-82—250, t8. Lexi Bubenchik (Mar) 85-82-83—250, t10. Isabella Orofino (ONU) 82-82-87—251, 11. Mattie Muckelroy (MtU) 84-86-81—251, 12. Allison Jurkovic (Musk) 86-85-87—258, 13. Madison Gruber (MtU) 88-87-85—260, t14. Ericka Mrano (Musk) 89-90—179, t14. Viv George (Ott) 89-92-84—265, t14. Maura Knox (MtU) 90-90-85—265.
Ohio Northern Individual Results
t1. Grace Honigford 83-77-76—236, 5. Amelia Burger 81-85-81—247, 6. Karlee Staugler 84-80-84—248, t8. Rhianna Firmstone 81-87-82—250, t10. Isabella Orofino 82-82-87—251.
*-Won playoff