WOMEN'S GOLF PLACES SECOND AT 2006 NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS

Senior Elena Robles concluded her collegiate career with a third-place tying performance at the NCAA Championships. (Photo by Doug Witte)

The Ferris State women's golf team shot a tourney-best 300 team score in Saturday's (May 13) final-round action of the 2006 NCAA Division II Women's Golf Championships en route to claiming second place with a three-round 925-stroke total (+61) at The Meadows Golf Club course in Allendale, Mich.

The Bulldogs finished six strokes behind national champion Rollins (Fla.), which registered a 919 score (+55) in the 54-hole tournament. Rollins claimed its fourth consecutive national title but not before withstanding a late Ferris rally as the Bulldogs closed to within two shots in the late stages of the final round. Lynn (Fla.) compiled a 951-stroke total (+87) to garner third-place honors while host Grand Valley State took fourth place as a result of notching a 963 score (+99) on the par 72, 5,882-yard course.

Junior Casey McKinnon and senior Elena Robles lead the Bulldogs as each tied for third-place honors with 10-over-par 226 scores. McKinnon, a 2006 All-GLIAC First-Team selection, compiled rounds of 74, 75, and 77. Robles, the 2006 GLIAC Women's Golf Athlete of the Year and a 2006 first-team all-conference performer, turned in rounds of 74, 78, and 74.

Freshman Meghan Hunter finished in 13th place by carding a 237 score (78-84-75--237, +21).

Casey McKinnon registered her highest-finish ever with a third-place tying effort at nationals. (Photo by Doug Witte)

Sophomore Becky Hoffman was among three individuals to tie for 19th-place honors as she garnered a 239 score (84-81-74--239, +23). Sophomore Missy Ward shot a three-round 248 (81-84-83--248, +32) en route to tying for 35th place.

Rollins' Mariana De Biase claimed top individual medalist honors with a four-over-par 220 score.

This year's championships were shortened to 54 holes from the normal 72 holes as rain forced the cancellation of Thursday's (May 11) second round.

The second-place finish represents the program's highest-placing ever and also the best ever in Ferris State Women's Athletics' history. The Bulldogs, who were making their sixth national tourney appearance and competing in their third straight NCAA-II Championship this spring, recorded a tie for second place in the 2004 NCAA-II Championships at Longwood, Fla., with a four-round 1,264-team score.

The Bulldogs placed fourth overall at the 2005 NCAA-II Championships in Albuquerque, N.M., by totaling a 1,251 team score in the 72-hole tourney. Ferris, under seventh-year head coach Brad Bedortha, has now placed among the nation's top four teams for the third consecutive season.

2006 NCAA-II Women's Golf Championship Final Results
1. Rollins (Fla.) 297-314-308--919 (+55)
2. Ferris State 307-318-300--925 (+61)
3. Lynn (Fla.) 311-325-315--951 (+87)
4. Grand Valley State 308-336-319--963 (+99)
5. Western Washington 313-335-319--967 (+103)
6. Western New Mexico 313-336-321--970 (+106)
7. Nebraska-Omaha 324-336-317--977 (+113)
8. Minnesota State Mankato 328-329-347--1,004 (+140)

Ferris State Individuals
3rdT. Elena Robles 84-78-74--226
3rdT. Casey McKinnon 74-75-77--226
13th. Meghan Hunter 78-84-75--237
19thT. Becky Hoffman 84-81-74--239
35thT. Missy Ward 81-84-83--248