Golfing to glory

Women’s golf team captures tournament title

The Ferris State University women’s golf team claimed its second tournament championship of the 2010-11 season.

The Bulldogs captured a first place finish at the Ohio Dominican Give 18 Fore Cancer Classic in Pataskala, Ohio, this weekend. The team recorded a 643 two-round team stroke total.

“We’ve been working hard in practice and conditioning,” junior Erin Fuchik said. “We’ve been the underdogs since we can’t practice outside because of the weather. We want to show everyone that we can still compete even though we’re a northern team.”

The Bulldogs captured six of the top 11 individual places, including four of the top five.

Leading the way for FSU were Fuchik and freshman Emily Rohdy. Both Fuchik and Rohdy garnered first place tying honors with 159 regulation scores in the 36-hole tournament.

Rohdy earned individualist medalist recognition following a playoff on the par 72.

Ohio Dominican University hosted the contest which took place at the 6,072 yard Cumberland Trail Golf Course.

Freshman Jacqueline DeBoer took fourth place with a 162 stroke total. Junior Brooke Rodes finished fifth with a 163 stroke total in a non-scoring appearance.

The Bulldogs are currently ranked sixth in the NCAA Division II East Region Rankings Poll. According to Fuchik, the team’s goals are to finish in the top four in every tournament, qualify for regionals, and earn a national bid.

“The girls have been playing so well,” Fuchik said. “We have all the momentum we need to carry us through this next match and our tournaments.”

FSU is scheduled to tee off against Grand Valley State University in a dual match Saturday.

“We’ve done everything we’ve wanted to in preparation,” Fuchik said. “It will be a really good competition, and I have no doubts we can take them [GVSU] down.” n