Women's Golf breaks 18-hole school record, sits in third place of 11 teams after first round of Berry (Ga.) Invitational

By Tim Glon

ROME, Ga. — The Ohio Northern women's golf team shattered its 18-hole school record by four strokes in the first round of the Berry (Ga.) Chik-Fil-A Invitational on Monday afternoon at the Coosa Country Club.

The Polar Bears (33-1 overall) are third of 11 teams after the first of two rounds with a 310, four shots better than the previous record of 314 set at the Capital Classic on Sept. 11, 2021.

Junior Grace Honigford (West Chester/Lakota East) is tied for fourth out of 66 golfers on the 5652-yard, par-72 course with a 2-over par 74.

Freshman Marisa Alfes (Bellbrook) is tied for 12th with a career-low 77, sophomore Amelia Burger (Centerville) is tied for 19th with a 79, sophomore Rhianna Firmstone (Moon Township, Pa./Moon Area) is tied for 22nd with an 80 and senior Isabella Orofino (Powell/Olentangy Liberty) is tied for 29th with an 83.

No. 9-ranked Methodist (N.C.) leads the team standings with a 301, Sewanee (Tenn.) is second with a 309 and No. 23-ranked Otterbein is fourth with a 318.

Individually, No. 4-ranked Sarah Hsu of Oglethorpe (Ga.) holds a six shot lead with a first round 67.

The final round will begin Tuesday morning with a shotgun start at 9 am.

Team Standings

1. #9 Methodist (N.C.) 301, 2. Sewanee (Tenn.) 309, 3. Ohio Northern 310, 4. #23 Otterbein 318, 5. Oglethorpe (Ga.) 319, 6. Huntingdon (Ala.) 320, 7. Berry (Ga.) 325, 8. Transylvania (Ky.) 327, 9. Piedmont (N.C.) 328, 10. Randolph-Macon (Ga.) 352, t10. Birmingham Southern (Ala.) 358, t10. Maryville (Tenn.) 358.

Top 5 Individuals

1. Sarah Hsu (Oglethorpe) 67, t2. Merrick Semans (Sewanee) 73, t2. Emily Gresham (Methodist) 73, t4. Grace Honigford (ONU) 74, t4. Becky Williams (Otterbein) 74, t4. Jillian Drinkard (Methodist) 74.

Ohio Northern Individual Results

t4. Grace Honigford 74, t12. Marisa Alfes 77, t19. Amelia Burger 79, t22. Rhianna Firmstone 80, t29. Isabella Orofino 83.