The Bobcats traveled to Yorktown, Indiana, for Ball State’s Brittany Kelly Classic on September 15 and 16 at the Players Club at Woodlands Trails Golf Course, where the team finished fourth at 49 over par.
The Bobcats started the invitational 18 over par after round one. Leading the team was sophomore Zoe Luebbers, who finished the round one under, including two under on the front with four straight birdies on holes two to five. On the back, she finished one over with eight pars and a bogey.
Junior Mackenzie Mcree followed at three over. She shot two over with two birdies and five pars on the front, while on the back nine, she picked it up with a birdie, six pars and two bogeys for one over.
Sophomore Morgan Rodgers and junior Alaina Nugent both shot eight over and tied for third for Ohio. Rodgers had a solid front with a birdie and four pars. On the back, Rodgers turned it around, excluding a triple bogey on the 13th and had six pars. Similar to Rodgers, Nugent had a strong showing on the front nine, shooting two over with seven pars before making the turn and picking up four bogeys and a double bogey on the 11th.
Rounding out the group was freshman Ally Turner at +9. She struggled on the front nine, shooting eight over before calming down on the back with two birdies, three bogeys and four pars.
The Bobcats shed five strokes in the second round, finishing 13 over. Turner led the pack, dropping eight strokes to finish one over. As she tallied six pars, a birdie and two bogeys on the front, and added another two birdies, two bogeys and five pars on the back.
Luebbers continued to provide the Bobcats with strong play as she finished three over. Luebbers dominated the front, finishing even par with two birdies and five pars. While on the back, she picked up four bogeys and a birdie on 15.
Nugent came third at four over with four bogeys and 14 pars. McRee followed at five over. She went three over on the front with three bogeys and six pars, then on the turn she picked up a double on the 10th before locking in with six pars, a bogey and a birdie.
Rounding out the group came Rodgers at eight over. Rodgers struggled on the front with two double bogeys and three bogeys before giving the Bobcats a consistent back nine with seven pars and two bogeys.
The final round saw the Bobcats take a slight step back, shooting 18 over par, which helped the team finish fourth. Luebbers kept the Bobcats in contention for a top-three finish. She shot even par, including an opening nine of one over, where she started strong with two birdies and two pars before picking up three bogeys on holes 5, 7 and 8. She took care of the business on the back with two birdies, six pars and a bogey.
McRee turned in a great final round, shooting three over, including an even front with two birdies, five pars and two bogeys. While coming down the stretch, she continued her success, adding another birdie and five pars.
Rodgers followed at six over, including an impressive front nine at one over with a birdie, six pars and two bogeys rounding the bend. She put in a solid back nine with two bogeys, six pars and a costly double bogey on 13.
Turner and Nugent rounded out the group at +10 with Turner shooting five over on the opening nine with five bogeys and four pars before finishing strong on the back at four over, including two birdies on holes 15 and 18. Nugent had a solid front, excluding a double bogey on nine, had two bogeys and six pars. On the back, she struggled with a quad bogey on 12 and a double bogey on 14 before finishing strong with birdies on 13 and 18.
Leubbers led the team, tying first and finishing +2 in where the sophomore placed tied for third on average score of par 4s at 4.11 (+4), third in average score on par 5s at 4.67 (-3) and tied for first with most birdies at 11. McRee joined Luebbers, placing tenth with the most birdies at seven. While Nugent finished tied for third on par 3s with a 3.00 (E).
Individual rankings are as follows: Zoe Luebbers +2 (T-1st), Mackenzie McRee +10 (T-9th), Ally Turner +20 (31st), Morgan Rodgers and Alaina Nugent +21 (T-22nd).
