FERRIS STATE TIES FOR SECOND PLACE AT NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNEY

The Ferris State women's golf team recorded the highest-placing ever for a Bulldog women's athletics team by virtue of their second-place tying performance at the 2004 NCAA Division II Women's Golf Championships (May 12-15) in Longwood, Fla.

Casey McKinnon carded a personal tourney-best two-over-par 74 total in Saturday's final-round play to move up nine places into a team-leading 10th-place tie individually.

The Bulldogs, under fifth-year head coach Brad Bedortha, fired a 314 score (+26) in Saturday's final-round action on the par 72, 5,994-yard The Legacy Club at Alaqua Lakes course for a final four-round 1,264-stroke total (+112). Florida Southern tied Ferris State as a result of posting a 318 score (+30) in the final round. Rollins (Fla.) defended its national title by leading from start to finish as the Tars registered a first-place 1,196 total (+44). Northeastern State (Okla.) was fourth at 1,265 (+113) followed by Western Washington's fourth-place 1,279 (+127) score. Grand Valley State, a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) along with Ferris State, took sixth place with a 1,280-stroke total (+128) of eight competing teams.

Rollins' Charlotte Campbell earned individual medalist honors with a first-place 299 score (+11) as the Tars had five of the six top golfers on the leaderboard, including the first three.

Sophomore Casey McKinnon led Ferris with a 311 score (+23) to finished in a two-way tie for 10th place. McKinnon carded a two-over-par 74 in Saturday's final round.

Freshman Heidi Aittama posted a four-round 312 score (+24) to finish in a four-way tie for 12th place.

Tying for 12th place was freshman Heidi Aittama, who compiled a four-round 312 total (+12) after garnering an 80 (+8) in today's action. Sophomore Elena Robles finished 21st place with a 318 score (+30) while senior Ellie Saladin's 328 (+40) tied her with one other for 32nd place. Saladin tallied a personal tourney-best 79 score (+7) in final-round competition. Junior Meredith Johnson claimed a tie for 42nd place as a result of a 334 (+46), which included a personal tourney-best 81 round (+9) in the final 18 holes.

McKinnon's three birdies (2-1) was tops on the squad while Saladin notched two, one apiece on the front and back nine.

FSU, which was making its fourth national tournament appearance, bested its previous high of fourth place at the 1992 NCAA-II Championships (May 4-6) in Fayetteville, N.C., when the Bulldogs fired a 1,015 score for 54 holes. The FSU women's golf team's second-place tying effort also surpassed the third-place national tourney finish made by the 1998 Bulldog softball team.

2004 NCAA Division II Women's Golf Championship Final Results
1. Rollins (Fla.) 303-303-296-294--1196 (+44)
2T. Ferris State 314-316-320-314--1264 (+112)
2T. Florida Southern 326-309-311-318--1,264 (+112)
4. Northeastern State (Okla.) 313-322-311-319--1265 (+113)
5. Western Washington 324-320-313-322--1279 (+127)
6. Grand Valley State 320-324-313-323-1280 (+128)
7. Minnesota State, Mankato 331-324-316-318-1289 (+137)
8. St. Cloud State 322-326-331-326-1305 (+153)

Ferris State Individuals
T10. Casey McKinnon 81-77-79-74--311
T12. Heidi Aittama 76-78-78-80--312
21. Elena Robles 74-78-80-86--318
T32. Ellie Saladin 83-83-83-79--328
T42. Meredith Johnson 85-85-83-81--334