FERRIS WINS REGIONAL TO QUALIFY FOR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

The Ferris State women's golf team made its first-ever appearance as a NCAA Regional host a memorable one as the Bulldogs went right down to the last hole in Wednesday's final-round action before capturing the program's first-ever NCAA Division II East Regional title with a three-round 963 score (+99) on its own Katke Golf Course in Big Rapids, Mich.

As a result, FSU automatically advances to the 2004 NCAA Division II Women's Golf Championships May 12-15 at The Legacy Club at Alaqua Lakes in Longwood, Fla. Grand Valley State, which placed second, also qualifies for the national tournament along with individuals Kim Keyer-Scott of Northern Kentucky and Northwood's Jamie Long.

The Bulldogs's 963 score represented the second-best 54-hole total in school history and was only three strokes behind its third-place tying 960 score at the Ferris State Invitational in 1984 (9/14-15).

Ferris State, coached by Brad Bedortha, managed to narrowly stay ahead of top-seeded Grand Valley State, which finished with a 965 team score (+101). The Bulldogs, who were seeded sixth, compiled rounds of 325 and 313 in Tuesday's 36-hole play and then shot a 325 in final-round competition on the par 72, 5,989-yard Katke Golf Course. Meanwhile, GVSU made up ground in the final round as the Lakers overcame a six stroke deficit after the opening two rounds with a 321 final-round total. Both Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) teams jockeyed for the top team honor as Ferris State held a one-stroke lead over Grand Valley State heading into the final two holes.

Ferris State celebrates its first-ever NCAA Regional Championship title. (L-R): Casey McKinnon, Elena Robles, Meredith Johnson, Heidi Aittama, Ellie Saladin and head coach Brad Bedortha. (Photo by Sandy Gholston)

Sophomore Elena Robles paced the Bulldogs with a third-place 233 score (80-74-79--233, +17) to finish one stroke behind Grand Valley State's Enid Gage and Keyer-Scott.

Freshman Heidi Aittama and senior Ellie Saladin both tied for sixth-place honors as a result of each shooting a 243 (+27) for three rounds. Aittama carded rounds of 80, 82 and 81 while Saladin posted scores of 78, 80 and 85.

Sophomore Casey McKinnon's 247 score (90-77-80--247, +31) tied her for 11th place while junior Meredith Johnson finished 25th following a 256-stroke total (87-83-86--256, +40).

Picking up All-East Region accolades as a result of placing among the top five individual finishers were Enid Gage, Kim Keyer-Scott, Elena Robles, Grand Valley State's Kristi Vienneau, and Jamie Long.

Ferris will be making its fourth NCAA Championship appearance next week and its first since the 2000-01 season when the Bulldogs turned in a fifth-place 1,360 score for four rounds at the 2001 NCAA Championships (May 16-19) in Rock Hill, S.C. FSU's highest national tourney finish was in 1992 (May 4-6) at Fayetteville, N.C., as the Bulldogs finished fourth of six teams with a three-round 1,015-stroke total.

2004 NCAA Division II East Regional Final Results
1. Ferris State (963, +99)
2. Grand Valley State (965, +101)
3. Northern Kentucky (976, +112)
4. Southern Indiana (1003, +139)
5. Southern Illinois-Edwardsville (1007, +143)
6. Indianapolis (1018, +154)