Ashland University's women's golf team was the No. 10 seed at the 2024 NCAA Division II East Regional, which concluded on Wednesday (May 8) afternoon.
Thanks to their fourth-place finish at regionals, the Eagles will be among 18 teams playing for a D-II national title.
After finishing the regional on Wednesday at Prairie View Golf Club in Carmel, Ind., Ashland advances to the 2024 NCAA Division II Women's Golf Championships, May 21-25 at the Orange County National Golf Center and Lodge in Winter Garden, Fla..
This will be the Eagles' first NCAA Championships team appearance since 2015, when the they finished ninth in the country, and the fourth time AU has gone as a team overall.
"This program has been through a lot in those nine years," said Ashland head coach
Bill Pollock. "The people and the culture of our program, I knew we would get here eventually. It's kind of surreal right now. We have goals, and we have steps that we have been doing, and that is our focus.
"I'm glad to represent Ashland University."
Junior
Emma Conway was Ashland's low player for the week, finishing in a tie for 11
th place individually at 76-75-80—231. Conway picked up three birdies in Round 3 and had 11 for the tourney.
Said Conway, "It's extremely satisfying. When I joined this program, I knew that it was going to be kind of an underdog program. I'm just so glad to finally see that fulfilled.
"All the girls, we really do love each other and we trust each other."
Next was sophomore
Klaira Paramore, who tied for 19
th at 76-77-80—233. She had one birdie on Wednesday and had four for the regional.
Freshman
Riley McKenzie was playing in her first regional, and finished in 28
th (79-78-78—235, two Wednesday birdies, six for the tournament), junior
Grace Grant was tied for 31
st (81-80-76—237, one Wednesday birdie, five for the regional), and freshman
LeeAnn Harker was 50
th (77-86-82—245, one Wednesday birdie, five for the tournament).
As a team, the Eagles ended at 308-310-314—932. Findlay (299-301-305—905) and Indianapolis (300-303-302—905) tied for first and went to a playoff, and Grand Valley State (317-303-300—920) was third. Davenport (315-315-312—942) placed fifth.
Regional individual medalist was Grand Valley State's Olivia Stoll (79-69-75—223).
