FERRIS STATE BEGINS SPRING SEASON CAPTURING TOP TOURNEY HONORS

Pictured (L-R): Sam Wideman, Missy Ward, Casey McKinnon, Head Coach Brad Bedortha, Becky Hoffman, Meghan Hunter, Alison Meyer, Raquel Hansen.

The nationally fourth-ranked Ferris State University women's golf team put together another solid performance in Tuesday's (March 13) final-round play by shooting a 307 score to finish with a two-round first-place 610-stroke total at the eighth annual Lenoir-Rhyne College Lady Bear Intercollegiate Tournament in Denver, N.C.

Ferris State lead from start to finish in the two-day tourney held at the par 72, 5,819-yard Ridge Golf and Country Club course as the Bulldogs fired a 303 in Monday's (March 12) opening round and then lead all teams in Tuesday's (March 13) final round with a 307 score to finish a 34-over-par. South Carolina-Upstate placed second at 654 (+69) and Wingate (N.C.) took third with a 673 score (+97).

Sophomore Meghan Hunter earned top individual medalist honors for the first time in her collegiate career as she carded a first-place 147 (71-76=147) while teammate Alison Meyer ended up five strokes in back of Hunter to capture second place. Meyer, also a sophomore, registered a 152-stroke total (76-76=152).

The Bulldogs had three other individuals crack the top 10 as junior Becky Hoffman's 154 score (80-74=154) tied her for fourth-place honors. Senior Casey McKinnon (76-81=157) and sophomore Raquel Hansen (82-75=157), who competed in a non-scoring capacity, each shared seventh place.

Senior Sam Wideman wound up in 19th place as a result of shooting a 171 (79-92) while taking part as a non-scorer. Rounding out the Bulldogs' scoring was junior Missy Ward, who turned in a 172 (83-89=172) to tie two others for 20th place.

The tournament title represents Ferris' third of the 2006-07 season under eighth-year head coach Brad Bedortha.