After its worst tournament performance of the year, Ohio responded at the Spring Break Shootout in Dade City, Florida, on Monday and Tuesday by placing 12th.
Emily Hughes had her best tournament of the season and tied for 18th. She was 6 over par going into the final round — thanks to her best round of the year — but struggled Tuesday to finish 14 over par.
The first round was also the best by six strokes for Marissa Balish. She ended the tournament alone in 44th at 20 over par, despite shooting just 3 over in the first round.
Western Kentucky ran away with the tournament and won by 24 strokes. Also, two fellow Mid-American Conference teams — Ball State and Central Michigan — placed ahead of Ohio, finishing ninth and 11th, respectively.
Headed into the tournament, Nicole Smiley had only three rounds of 80 strokes or higher this year, but she doubled that total in the tournament. She finished 26 over par.
While, as a team, Ohio's best round was the first, Hannah Travis scored her best in the second. The 6-over-par round was her best of the tournament and helped her to tie for 74th at 36 over par.
Ashley Flynn didn't compete as a part of the team score and finished tied for 78th with three consistent rounds to finish 40 over par. That is a three-stroke improvement from her last tournament.
Ohio will be closer to home for its next tournament, the 2018 Lady Colonel Classic on March 30-31, in Richmond, Kentucky.
