After adding the Angola Shootout to the schedule as one final competition, Ohio was slated to play 36 holes Saturday, but weather complicated the plans.
The seven participating teams were supposed to tee-off for the first 18 holes at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, but cold temperatures at Glendarin Hills Golf Club in Angola, Ind., forced play to be suspended. However, the competitors were able to play a shortened 18-hole competition after the weather improved.
Ohio coach Kelly Ovington thought the poor weather conditions assisted the Bobcats’ work in situations that demanded mental toughness.
“Anytime we get to compete we get to challenge ourselves and become a more competitive athlete,” Ovington said. “The conditions were very tough and it was a great opportunity to work on the mental side of the game and build confidence.”
After the single round of play, Ohio finished in seventh place, trailing Ball State — the host and champion team — by 20 strokes. The Bobcats finished with a combined 328 strokes, totaling for 40-over-par.
The field included five other Mid-American Conference teams, which was a good tune-up for the Bobcats, before competing in the MAC Championships next weekend.
Ohio freshman Lauren McKinzie led the team, tying her career-low score of 79. Her performance was also her first top-20 finish in her career, after she tied for 16th place overall.
Individually, junior Kristen Helmsdoerfer also finished with a 79 after cutting five strokes off her score on the front nine, before shooting a 37 on the second nine.
Sophomore Julie Lechner and junior Kara Brinkmann tied for 29th place, as they finished with matching scores of 82. Freshman Angela Codian and senior Sarah Tranelli followed not too far behind with final scores of 85 and 87, tying for 43rd and 47th, respectively.
Ohio’s student-athletes also finished atop other leaderboards this weekend.
Helmsdoerfer and Brinkmann tied for the most birdies in the event with three, while Brinkmann also tied for the third-lowest par-3 scoring average with an average of three.
McKinzie tied for the best par-5 scoring average with an average of 4.5.
The Bobcats will resume action in the final event of the year next weekend at the MAC Championships, which will be held at the Longaberger Golf Club in Nashport, Ohio.
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