Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
MAC Championship
Women's Golf Equals School-Best Finish with a Second Place Showing
4/26/2009 5:30:25 PM | Women's Golf
Senior Stephany Fleet takes third place with a 306
Click Here for Complete Results (PDF).
Click Here for a Photo Gallery of Day 3.
NASHPORT, Ohio – For the third consecutive season, the Eastern Michigan University women's golf team equaled the school's best finish with a runner-up showing at the Mid-American Conference Women's Golf Championship Sunday, April 26, at the par 72, 6,147-yard Longaberger Golf Club. The Eagles carded a three-day total of 1,256 (333-307-314-302) as Kent State rolled to its 11th consecutive championship with a 72-hole total of 1,217 (304-309-312-292).
EMU's second-place finish equaled the mark set by the 2003, 2007 and the 2008 squads. In 2003, the Green and White recorded a 925 at Walden Ponds Golf Course in Hamilton, Ohio. The 2007 team posted a 1,252 at Longaberger Golf Club in Nashport, Ohio, while the 2008 Eagles finished as the runner-up with 1,228 at The Brickyard Crossing Golf Course in Indianapolis, Ind.
Additionally, the Eagles' four runner-up finishes at the MAC Championship are the second-most of any team in the league. Ohio has finished second at the event five-times (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005) with Western Michigan (2004) and Toledo (2006) as the only other teams to record a second place finish in the 11-year history of the tournament.
EMU senior Stephany Fleet (Dewitt, Mich.-Dewitt) finished in third place with a 306 (84-75-75-72) while senior Courtney Aili (Chelsea, Mich.-Chelsea) tied for fifth with a 311 (83-76-79-73). For their efforts, the duo earned all-tournament team accolades. Fleet was also named to the All-MAC first team with sophomore Darby Peters (Lake Orion, Mich.-Lake Orion), while Aili garnered second team All-MAC honors.
Kent State's Mercedes Germino led from wire-to-wire to claim medalist honors with a 12-over par total of 300 (73-75-80-72). Germino was followed by teammate Kirby Dreher(79-76-75-71=301). Germino's victory marked the 10th time in the 11-year history of the event a KSU player has won the individual title.
Conditions were near perfect as players enjoyed temperatures in the high-80s and light winds. Kent State shot 61-over par through the first 54 holes and followed that up by turning in a four-under par performance in the final round. Akron and Western Michigan finished tied for third with a 1,305, as Toledo (1,305), Ball State (1,313), Ohio (1,318), Northern Illinois (1,366) and Bowling Green (1,401) rounded out the team scores.
For the tournament, all five Eagles ranked in the top 20 including Peters who was tied for eighth with a 317 (83-75-80-79). Sophomore Stephanie Bevington (Ossosso, Mich.-Owosso) finished 18th with a 328 (83-82-85-78) while junior Marjorie Thuot (Joliette, Quebec-Therese-Martin) rounded out the lineup with a 329 (88-81-80-80) to sit in a tie for 19th place.
Head coach Sandy Wagner and the rest of the Eagles will now await word from the NCAA on a possible at large berth into the upcoming NCAA Regional Championships, May 7-9.
Eastern Michigan Individual Results:
Pl. Player Scores
3. Stephany Fleet 84-75-75-72=306
t-5. Courtney Aili 83-76-79-73=311
t-8. Darby Peters 83-75-80-79=317
18. Stephanie Bevington 83-82-85-78=328
t-19. Marjorie Thuot 88-81-80-80=329
Team Scores:
Pl. Team Scores
1. Kent State 304-309-312-292=1217
2. Eastern Michigan 333-307-314-302=1256
t-3. Akron 330-325-329-313=1297
t-3. Western Michigan 333-321-329-314=1297
5. Toledo 334-331-325-315=1305
6. Ball State 342-323-331-317=1313
7. Ohio 332-350-325-311=1318
8. Northern Illinois 367-331-338-330=1366
9. Bowling Green 368-348-346-339=1401
First Team All-MAC
Stephany Fleet, Eastern Michigan
Darby Peters, Eastern Michigan
Kirby Dreher, Kent State
Mercedes Germino, Kent State
Martina Gavier, Kent State
Second Team All-MAC
Courtney Aili, Eastern Michigan
Brittany Kelly, Ball State
Elise Swartout, Western Michigan
Boram Lee, Toledo
Kristen Hill, Akron
Sportswomen of the Year
Boram Lee, Toledo
Golfer of the Year
Kirby Dreher, Kent State
Freshman of the Year
Mercedes Germino, Kent State
Coach of the Year
Mike Morrow, Kent State
All-Tournament Team
Mercedes Germino, Kent State
Kirby Dreher, Kent State
Stephany Fleet, Eastern Michigan
Maddi Swaney, Kent State
Courtney Aili, Eastern Michigan
Britney Hamilton, Western Michigan
*Tie for 5th place so there are 6 on the All-Tournament Team
