Podium finishes are rare for the women's golf team, but not at the Stone Ridge Golf Club in Bowling Green.
The Bobcats hadn't secured a top-three tournament finish since last year's Falcon Invitational, but they roared back with an impressive charge yesterday to finish third of 11 teams at this year's tournament.
The Bobcats battled wet, cold and windy conditions throughout the day Saturday to post a score of 46-over-par 334 in the first round, good enough to tie for fifth place with Mid-American Conference rivals Northern Illinois and a mere three shots behind second-place Western Michigan.
Freshman Sarah Tranelli paced the Bobcats with a 10-over-par 82, putting her in a tie for 11th overall in the individual standings. Twin sophomores Meryl and Megan Weaver were next in line, shooting rounds of 83 and 84, respectively, to establish Ohio as a prime contender for a rare top-three finish.
The weather improved for yesterday's final round, and the Bobcats took full advantage by moving up to finish in third place.
Megan Weaver shot a 74, the second lowest round of any golfer on the day, to finish seventh in the individual standings. Tranelli kept up the pace as well, carding an 80 to secure a 15th-place finish.
In all, much better weather conditions allowed four of the five Bobcat golfers to lower their rounds yesterday from Saturday, and all 11 teams in competition also lowered their team scores by at least two shots.
MAC rival Toledo won the tournament with a two-day score of 618, with Western Michigan 17 shots back. Northern Illinois and hosts Bowling Green - fourth and fifth, respectively - rounded out an all-MAC top-five.
Toledo's Georgina Hunt won the individual competition with a total of 6-over-par 150 to finish three shots ahead of teammate Marguerite Johnson and the Broncos' Elise Swartout.
2 Sports
Cameron Dunbar
Quick Stats
Falcon Invitational
Stone Ridge Golf Club, Bowling Green
Final Standings
1. Toledo 317-301- 618
2. Western Michigan 330-305- 635
3. OHIO 334-317- 651
Bobcat Performances
Megan Weaver 84-74- 158
Sarah Tranelli 82-80- 162
Erin Cahill 85-80- 165
