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May 15, 2010
Mesa, Az. - Grand Valley State used the fourth-lowest score of Saturday's (May 15) final round at the NCAA Division II Women's Golf Championships to solidify its sixth place finish at the tournament. The Lakers' total team score of 1249 put them 13 strokes back of fifth place Sonoma State, as GVSU senior Ashley Smith finished the tournament in a tie for fourth place.
On Saturday at the Longbow Golf Club, Grand Valley State shot a 303, just four strokes back of Florida Southern's round, the lowest of the day. The 303 score came after opening rounds of 315, 312, and 319, as the Lakers total score of 1249 was +113. Nova Southeastern won back-to-back national championships with a four-day total of 1180 (+44), as the Sharks led all four days of the tournament. Rollins was in second place the entire week, finishing at 1220 (+84), while Florida Southern (1221, +85) finished one stroke ahead of Tarleton State (1222, +86) for third place. Sonoma State was a baker's dozen ahead of GVSU at 1236 (+100).
Turning in a terrific performance for the week was Smith, who used a final round of 73 to go with her opening three days of 77-74-75 for a 299 (+15), tying with two other golfers for a fourth place finish. Last season at the national tournament, Smith placed 12th. This weekend, she tied with Nova Southeastern's Maria Garcia Austt and Florida Southern's Melanie Audette for fourth. Smith was one of three Laker golfers to place in the top-35 of the tournament.
In a four-way tie for 21st place was Sarah Hoffman at 309 (+25). The sophomore had three strong rounds in the four-day tournament, shooting 76-77-81-75 to place just outside the top-20. Last year at nationals, Hoffman also finished in a tie for 21st place. Senior Caitlin Bennett came in at 33rd place with a total of 313 (+29). The fourth-year golfer used rounds of 78-80-79-76 for her tally.
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Playing in her first ever national tournament, Ashley Beard combined for a 331 (+47), tying for 56th place. The freshman was consistent through the week with scores of 84-81-84-82. Junior Allie Tyler finished in 62nd place with a 339 (+55), as she shot 89-87-84-79 for her total.
Nova Southeastern's Sandra Changkija was the individual tournament winner by finishing at even par with a 284. She stormed back from a four-stroke deficit entering Saturday's final round to defeat Newberry's Maria Luz Besio, who placed second with a 290 (+6). Rollins' Joanna Coe (295, +11) was third, placing four strokes better than Smith and the three-player contingent in fourth place.
It was the ninth time Grand Valley State has advanced to the NCAA Division II National Tournament, as the Lakers have made it that far in 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, and 2010. To qualify for this year's national championships, GVSU won the East Regional Championship for the fifth time in program history, including each of the past three seasons. The Lakers won regional titles in 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, and 2010. Last year, Grand Valley State matched its highest-ever finish by placing second (also done in 2005) and GVSU has never finished lower than sixth place at the national tournament.
