FERRIS STATE WOMEN'S GOLF TEAM RANKED SECOND NATIONALLY

Ferris State's Elena Robles ranks 107th among the nation's top collegiate golfers for all divisions by Golfstat.

The Ferris State University women's golf team is currently ranked second in nation for the 2005 fall season in the most recent (Oct. 18) NCAA Division II national rankings by Golfstat, the official source for college golf scores and statistics.

The Bulldogs, who compiled an 85-3 record this fall, are second to only three-time (2003-05) defending national champion Rollins College (Fla.). Ferris State has registered a 76.90 adjusted scoring average and has compiled a 3-0 mark versus the NCAA-II's top 25 teams to receive points in the computer-generated ranking system.

Ferris, which garnered first-place honors at the Ferris State Bulldog Invitational (Sept. 3-4), Northwood Invitational (Sept. 30-Oct. 1), and the Findlay William "Bing" Beall Classic (Oct. 2-3) this fall, also turned in noteworthy performances at a pair of NCAA Division I Tournaments -- second of 14 teams at the Ball State Cardinal Classic (Sept. 19-20) and third of 14 teams at the Toledo Rocket Classic (Sept. 24-25).

The Bulldogs are also listed third in both par 3 scoring (3.30) and par 4 scoring (4.40) for NCAA-II while ranking fourth in par 5 scoring (5.20). FSU is rated third in subpar strokes per round (1.86).

"This (national ranking) continues to confirm us as one of the best teams in the country," said seventh-year Ferris State head coach Brad Bedortha. "I'm blessed to have competitive ladies who continually strive to get better.

"The national recognition is a testament to the character of our kids and they want to be part of a winning program," added Bedortha.

Besides the nationally second-place ranking, Ferris' freshmen class is seventh in Golfstat's NCAA-II Freshman Class Impact Rankings as of Oct. 20 as the Bulldogs have an 80.85 stroke average to go with a 307.260 computer points total. The Bulldogs' freshmen class consists of Raquel Hansen (West Olive/Grand Haven), Meghan Hunter (Dexter), and Alison Meyer (Duluth, Minn./Central).

Individually, senior Elena Robles (Torrance, Calif./Redondo Union) is currently ranked 107th of 250 individual golfers in the Golfstat Cup Standings which encompasses the nation's top collegiate women's golfers in all three NCAA Divisions and in the NAIA. Freshman Amanda Blumenherst of NCAA-I Duke is tops in the individual rankings with a 70.50 stoke average in six rounds.

Robles is also sixth in par 4 scoring (4.23), second in par 5 scoring (4.85) and tied for first in subpar strokes per round (3.00).

A two-time (2002-03 and 2004-05) All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) First-Team selection and a 2003-04 second-team all-conference pick, Robles led the Bulldogs this fall season with a team-best 74.77 stroke average (972 total strokes) in 13 rounds. She placed among the top five in as many tournaments and earned top individual medalist honors at three tourneys. Robles fired a two-round 147 score (70-77--147) to claim first at the Ball State Cardinal Classic and carded a first-place 148-stroke total (75-73--148) at the Northwood Invitational. She closed out the fall campaign with a 147 (73-74--147) at the Findlay William "Bing" Beall Classic. The two-time (2003-04 and 2004-05) team Most Valuable Player also finished runner-up at the Ferris State Bulldog Invite (9/3-4) as a result of firing a two-round 149 (72-77--149) score and garnered third place at the Toledo Rocket Classic after posting a three-round 224-stroke total (73-75-76--224).

To qualify for the Golfstat Cup, the golfer must be eligible for inclusion in the NCAA or NAIA Rating System, have played in a minimum of 20 stroke play rounds by the end of the season, and been disqualified or withdrawn from no more than one stroke play Tournament during the College Golf Season.

Ferris State claimed fourth place at the 2005 NCAA-II Women's Golf Championships (May 11-14) in Albuquerque, N.M. after recording the highest-placing ever for a Bulldog women's athletics team by tying for second place at the 2004 NCAA-II Championships in Longwood, Fla.

. The Bulldogs return to the links in the spring 2006 starting with the Northern Kentucky Tournament (March 25-26) at Perry Park, Ky.