Multiple Records Set in 19-Shot Win at UIS Invite
Springfield, Illinois – The University of Findlay women's golf team followed up a solid opening round on Saturday with the best round in school history on Sunday, April 22 at the UIS Spring Invite. The Oilers put together it's first-ever sub-par round as a team, carding a 287 (-1) for the day to take the tournament championship by 19 strokes over the University of Missouri – St. Louis. The score breaks the 18-hole school record of 290 from the 2016 Dayton Fall Invitational while Findlay's 36-hole score of 581 (+5) also establishes a school record, breaking the old mark of 586 which was set at the 2016 Northwood Invitational.
Sophomore Meredith Wipper and junior Makenzie Torres, who both played phenomenal golf in both rounds, traded their spot atop the leaderboard for most of the day. Heading into the 18th hole, Wipper, who was at -3 for the tournament, made bogey to finish at -2 for the even. Torres, playing in the final group, made bogey on 17 but took the 18th tee box at -3 for the tournament. The current G-MAC Medalist proceeded to make a seven on the hole, sliding into second and giving Wipper the top spot.
Wipper, who shot a 71 on the day, earned the tournament title by putting together two sub-par rounds. She finishes with a 142, the third-lowest 36-hole score in school history, while teammate Makenzie Torres (74 on Sunday) took second place with a 144 which ties for the fifth-lowest 36-hole score in school history.
Despite that solid play atop the leaderboard, Findlay's biggest move of the day came from junior Samantha Hatter who moved up 11 spots to fourth overall after carding a career-best 69 (-3) in the final 18 holes. Hatter played bogey-free golf on Sunday and birdied the fourth hole, a par four, and the eighth and 11th holes, both par 3s. Hatter's round of 69 is tied for the fourth-best 18-hole score in school history.
Freshman Kristina Kniesly also made moves on the final day, sliding up four spots to fifth with a 73 (+1) in Sunday's round. Findlay's standout youngster made par on 15 of the 18 holes and birdied the par 5, seventh and finishes with a 36-hole score of 149.
Rouding out the Oilers top five was sophomore Samantha Kellstrom who also moved up on the leaderboard, finished in a tie for ninth overall with a two-day score of 152 after posting a 75 (+3) on Sunday. Kellstrom made bogey on five holes in the opening nine, but was bogey-free on the back nine including a birdie on the par 5, 15th hole.
Findlay is back on the course one more time before the NCAA DII Regional. The Oilers head to the Walsh Invitational in Canton, Ohio on April 28-29.