Ashland University's women's golf team looks like one that wants to go back to the NCAA Division II postseason.
The Eagles, who made the biggest move up the D-II East Super Region to No. 10 in the third and final set of rankings, won for the second time in three tournaments, taking the Gannon Spring Invitational by 12 strokes following Sunday's (April 14) second and final round.
Ashland ended the weekend at 320-294—614, a dozen shots ahead of the second-place host Golden Knights (322-304—626). Franklin Pierce (320-324—644) took third.
The 2023-24 season marks the first time the Eagle women have won three tournaments in one athletic year.
Eagle women's golf made 10 consecutive regional tournaments from 2009-18. They reached the D-II Championships as a team in 2011, 2013 and 2015, with a top finish of ninth place in both 2011 and 2015.
Not only did Ashland win at Gannon as a team, but freshman
LeeAnn Harker was the tournament medalist – and all five Eagles whose scores counted toward the team total ended in the top eight individually. Harker won the event by seven shots, ending at 74-70—144. She fired six birdies on Sunday and nine in the tournament.
The well-rounded Eagle team effort was supported by junior
Grace Grant (sixth, 82-74—156, two Sunday birdies, four in the tournament), junior
Emma Conway (seventh, 83-74—157, two birdies on Sunday and in the tournament), freshman
Riley McKenzie (tied for eighth, 83-76—159, two Sunday birdies, three in the tournament), and sophomore
Klaira Paramore (tied for eighth, 81-78—159, two Sunday birdies, four in the tournament).
Senior
Mailiis Simovart tied for 11
th as an individual (79-81—160, one Sunday and tournament birdie), and senior
Maddy Klinger tied for 28
th as an individual (88-92—180, one Sunday and tournament birdie).
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