Women's Golf holds 5-shot lead after first round of Polar Beaver Invitational on Friday

BEAVERDAM — The Ohio Northern women's golf team holds a 5-shot lead after the first round of the Polar Beaver Invitational on a cold and wet Friday afternoon.

The Basics

• The Polar Bears finished the first 18 holes with a 29-over par 317 and lead Wooster (322) by five shots.
• St. Mary's (Ind.) is third with a 323, Mount Saint Joseph is fourth with a 325 and Alma (Mich.) is fifth with a 329.
• There are 13 varsity teams in the field.
• ONU Record: 37-27.
• Venue: Hidden Creek G.C. - Beaverdam, Ohio.

ONU Individuals

• Senior Grace Honigford (West Chester/Lakota East) leads the Polar Bears after the first round with a 4-over par 76 on the par-72, 5602-yard course.
• She is currently tied for second out of 81 golfers.
• Juniors Amelia Burger (Centerville) and Bekah Baumlein (Mainesville/Kings) are tied for seventh with 80s.
• Sophomore Marisa Alfes (Bellbrook) is tied for 10th with an 81.
• Senior Torrie Smith (Kokomo, Ind./Western) is tied for 36th with an 86.
• Playing on the ONU "B" team, junior Rhianna Firmstone (Moon Township, Pa./Moon Area) is tied for 28th with an 85.

Notables

• Honigford has been Medalist 20 times in 42 career tournaments and will enter the final round just two shots off the lead.
• The tournament will be played alongside the men's version, with ONU hosting the men's first round and women's second round at Colonial G.C.
• Tournament co-host Bluffton will host the women's first round and the men's second round at Hidden Creek G.C. near Beaverdam.
• Each tournament will be 36 holes.
• Head coach Chad Bucci is 432-283-2 in his 11th season at the helm of the ONU women's golf team, a winning percentage of .604.

Up Next

• The final round will be Saturday at Colonial G.C. in Harrod.