FERRIS STATE CONTINUES NCAA WOMEN'S GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS TREND

Second-Place Showing Guarantees National Tourney Appearance For Third Consecutive Year

Sophomore Missy Ward and the Bulldogs will now gear up for the 2006 NCAA Division II Women's Golf Championships next week (May 10-13) in Allendale, Mich.

A successful trend continues for the Ferris State women's golf team as the Bulldogs will be making their third straight NCAA Division II Women's Golf Championships appearance and sixth in the program's history after registering a second-place finish at the NCAA-II Women's Golf East Regional Championships (May 1-2) in Findlay, Ohio.

Top-seeded Ferris State captured second place as the Bulldogs posted a three-round 973-team score (+109), which included a final-round 330-stroke total in Tuesday's (May 2) play. Grand Valley State, which entered the tourney as the second seed, claimed the regional title by carding a 964 (+100) for 54 holes on the par 72, 6,003-yard Findlay (Ohio) Country Club course.

By placing among the top two teams, both Ferris and Grand Valley State have qualified for the national tournament, which will be held on May 10-13 at The Meadows Golf Club in Allendale, Mich. The 72-hole event, which features both team and individual competition, is being hosted by Grand Valley State University.

Drury (Mo.) claimed third-place honors in the six-team regional tournament field as a result of shooting a 987 (+123). Tonya Choate of Drury was the top individual medalist as she notched a first-place 232 score (78-70-84--232, +16).

Sophomore Missy Ward's fifth-place 239 (79-80-80--239, +23) paced the Bulldogs, who received a sixth-place effort from sophomore Becky Hoffman. Hoffman was one stroke in back of Ward at 240 (81-77-82--240, +24).

Senior Elena Robles showed marked improvement as she placed in a three-way tie for eighth in the final results after being tied for 15th going into the final round. Robles, the 2006 GLIAC Women's Golf Athlete of the Year, finished at 244 (84-80-80--244, +28).

Freshman Meghan Hunter and junior Casey McKinnon each had three-round 252-stroke totals. Hunter (85-79-88--252, +36) and McKinnon (84-79-89--252, +36) were among three golfers to claim a share of 20th place.

Missy Ward was Ferris' lone representative on the NCAA-II East Regional All-Tournament Team as she finished among the top five individuals. Joining her on the squad were Drury's Tonya Choate, Kristi Piepenbrink of Indianapolis, Grand Valley State's Kristi Vienneau, and Jamie Long of Northwood.

The Bulldogs, who also placed second at the 2005 NCAA-II East Regional in Allendale, Mich., turned in a fourth-place four-round 1,251 total strokes showing at the 2005 NCAA-II Championships in Albuquerque, N.M. FSU's highest national tourney finish was a second-place tying performance at the 2004 NCAA-II Championships (May 12-16) in Longwood, Fla. Ferris carded a four-round 1,264-stroke total (+112) as the second-place tie marked the highest-placing ever for a Bulldog Women's Athletics team.

Ferris State is currently ranked first in the most recent (April 21) NCAA-II Women's Golf East Regional poll as administered by the NCAA-II Women's Golf Committee.

2006 NCAA Division II East Regional Final Results
1. Grand Valley State (964, +100)
2. Ferris State (973, +109)
3. Drury (987, +123)
4. Southern Indiana (1010, +146)
5. Southern Illinois-Edwardsville (1011, +147)
6. Northern Kentucky (1026, +162)