Women's Golf Places Second at MAC Match Play Challenge

LAKEWOOD, Fla. (EMUEagles.com) – The top-seeded Eastern Michigan University women's golf team placed second at the Mid-American Conference Match Play Challenge, defeating No. 3 Bowling Green State University in the semifinals before falling to No. 4 Northern Illinois University in the finals Tuesday, Feb. 10.

The final two rounds were adjusted to only nine holes each due to travel constraints.

In the continuation of Monday's semifinal match, which was suspended due to inclement weather, the Eagles pulled off a 3-2 decision over the host Falcons. Freshman Thelma Beck cruised to a 3-and-2 victory to get the Green and White on the board first, while senior Lois Schoof notched a 2-and-1 victory to spot the Eagles a 2-0 edge in the match. Bowling Green roared back with a pair of victories as Fran Rodriguez defeated freshman Kylie Raines, 3-and-1, as well as Patricia Holt downing Karen Lee Ping, 3-and-2. Sophomore Kelsey Murphy proved the difference, winning two-up over Shelby Wilson to clinch EMU's berth in the championship match.

In the finale, Raines again started the Eagles off on the right foot with a 2-and-1 decision before NIU answered back with wins by Sydney Brickley and Lena Gautier. EMU did get one final victory by Lee Ping, but Beck dropped her final match, 2-and-1, allowing the Huskies to clinch the 3-2 victory.

Schools are competing in teams of five with the seeds determined by their current GolfStat rankings. Each of the matches is worth one point to the winner. If the competitors end up all-square after 18 holes, each school received ½ point. The school with the most points after the five matches wins.

Unlike stroke play, in which the unit of scoring is the total number of strokes taken over one or more rounds of golf, match play scoring consists of individual holes won, halved or lost. On each hole, the most that can be gained is one point. Golfers play as normal, counting the strokes taken on a given hole. The golfer with the lowest score on a given hole receives one point. If the golfers tie, then the hole is halved. Also, once a player is "up" more holes than there are holes remaining to play the match is over.

The Eagles will be back in action Saturday, Feb. 28 when they travel to Sedona, Ariz. for the Red Rocks Invitational.

Tournament Order of Finish
1. #4 Northern Illinois (3-0)
2. #1 Eastern Michigan (2-1)
3. #3 Bowling Green (2-1)
4. #2 Western Michigan (1-2)
5. #6 Akron (1-1-1) ^
6. #5 Ohio (1-1-1)
7. #7 IPFW (1-2)
8. #8 Central Michigan (0-3)

^won the tiebreaker over Ohio with total holes up (7-2)

Semifinals (based on a shortened round of nine holes)

Eastern Michigan 3, Bowling Green 2
Fran Rodriguez def. Kylie Raines, 3&1
Thelma Beck def. Hannah Lewis, 3&2
Lois Schoof def. Mikayla Baer, 2&1
Patricia Holt def. Karyn Lee Ping, 3&2
Kelsey Murphy def. Shelby Wilson, 2-up

Northern Illinois def. Western Michigan, 4-2
Ohio def. IPFW, 5-0
Akron def. Central Michigan, 5-0

Finals (based on a shortened round of nine holes)

Northern Illinois 3, Eastern Michigan, 2
Kylie Raines def. Peyton Gunnison, 2&1
Sam Coyne def. Thelma Beck, 2&1
Sydney Brickey def. Lois Schoof, 3&2
Karyn Lee Ping def. Connie Ellett, 1-up
Lena Gautier def. Kelsey Murphy, 3&2

IPFW def. Central Michigan, 3.5-1.5
Akron and Ohio tied, 2.5-2.5
Bowling Green def. Western Michigan, 4-1

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Players Mentioned

Thelma Beck

Karyn Lee Ping

Kelsey Murphy

Kylie Raines

Lois Schoof

Eastern Michigan Athletics