Women's Golf Wins Final Match at Mid-American Match Play

LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University women's golf team split a pair of matches on the final day of the Mid-American Match Play Challenge on the par 72, 6,068-yard Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club course. The Eagles dropped a hard-fought 3-2 decision to No. 5 Illinois State University in the consolation bracket before edging No. 2 Northern Illinois University, 3-2, in the seventh-place match.

Senior Julia Stevenson (Milford, Mich.-Milford), senior Maria Connelly (Waterville, Ohio-Anthony Wayne) and junior Preaw Sripatrprasite (Bangkok, Thailand-Siam International) each posted a pair of individual victories during the two-day tournament to place the Green and White.

In Tuesday's opener, Sripatrprasite dominated her match needing just 12 holes to close out the Redbirds' Paige Seiser, 6&5. Stevenson went the distance in her match against Emma Rouger to notch a 1-up victory, while two of the Eagles' final three matches were not decided until the final hole.

Three Eagles posted individual victories against Northern Illinois, as EMU upset the second-seeded Huskies who went winless in three matches. Connelly led from-wire-to-wire in a 4&3 victory over Ahra Ko, while sophomore Natai Apichonlati (Bangkok, Thailand-The Regent's International School) added a 3&2 triumph over Caroline Klemp. Stevenson clinched the team victory with a 2-up win over Lauren Ingle.

For the second consecutive year, Florida Gulf Coast University took home the tournament title with a 3.5-1.5 victory over No. 6 Western Michigan. No .7 Morehead State finished in third with a 3-2 defeat of No. 4 Akron. No. 9 Purdue Fort Wayne took fifth-overall following a 3-2 decision over Illinois State.

Eastern returns to action at the Rio Verde Invitational, Feb 21-23, in Rio Verde, Ariz.

2020 Women's Mid American Match Play Challenge

Round 1:
No. 5 Illinois State def. No. 12 Ohio, 4.5-0.5
No. 6 Western Michigan def. No. 11 Western Illinois, 4-1
No. 7 Morehead State def. No. 10 Bowling Green, 4.5-0.5
No. 8 Purdue Fort Wayne def. No. 9 Central Michigan, 4-1

Round 2 - Quarterfinals:
No. 6 Western Michigan def. No. 3 Eastern Michigan, 3-2
Cameryn Lucia (WMU) def. Katelin Lawson (EMU), 2&1
Maria Connelly (EMU) def. Alissa Fish (WMU), 2&1
Brooke Gibbons (WMU) def. Natai Apichonlati (EMU), 5&4
Preaw Sripatrprasite (EMU) def. Fiona Wang (WMU), 1 up
Jasmine Chee (WMU) def. Julia Stevenson (EMU), 3&1

No. 1 Florida Gulf Coast def. No. 8 Purdue Fort Wayne, 2.5-1.5
No. 7 Morehead State def. No. 2 Northern Illinois, 3-2
No. 4 Akron def. No. 5 Illinois State, 3-2
No. 10 Bowling Green def. No. 9 Central Michigan, 3-2
No. 12 Ohio def. No. 11 Western Illinois, 3-2

Round 3 - Semifinals:
No. 1 Florida Gulf Coast def. No. 4 Akron, 3-2
No. 6 Western Michigan def. No. 7 Morehead State, 4-1

Round 3 - Consolation Bracket:
No. 5 Illinois State def. No. 3 Eastern Michigan, 3-2
Morgan Savage (ILS) def. Katelin Lawson (EMU), 2 up
Emma Sutton (ILS) def. Maria Connelly (EMU), 1 up
Becca Black (ILS) def. Natai Apichonlati (EMU), 3&1
Preaw Sripatrprasite (EMU) def. Paige Seiser (ILS), 6&5
Julia Stevenson (EMU) def. Emma Rouger (ILS), 1 up

No. 8 Purdue Fort Wayne vs. No. 2 Northern Illinois, 3-2
No. 9 Central Michigan halved with No. 11 Western Illinois, 2.5-2.5 (CMU advanced on tie breakers)
No. 10 Bowling Green def. No. 12 Ohio, 3.5-1.5

Round 4 - Championship Match:
No. 1 Florida Gulf Coast def. No. 6 Western Michigan, 3.5-1.5

Third-Place Match:
No. 7 Morehead State def. No. 4 Akron, 3-2

Fifth-Place Match:
No. 9 Purdue Fort Wayne def. No. 5 Illinois State, 3-2

Seventh-Place Match:
No. 3 Eastern Michigan def. No. 2 Northern Illinois, 3-2
Isabella Samudio (NIU) def. Katelin Lawson (EMU), 2 up
Maria Connelly (EMU) def. Ahra Ko (NIU), 4&3
Natai Apichonlati (EMU) def. Caroline Klemp (NIU), 3&2
Jasmine Ly (NIU) def. Preaw Sripatrprasite (EMU), 2&1
Julia Stevenson (EMU) def. Lauren Ingle (NIU), 2 up

Tiebreaker System:

Team Matches Tied: Team matches that are tied will be decided by using the following procedure:

If a team match is tied after the completion of the five singles matches, the tie will be broken by comparing the margin of victory of each individual match won for their team.

If a team tie still exists, the team winner will be determined by comparing the number of holes remaining in each match won:

If a team tie still exists, the team winner will be determined by comparing the halved match or matches. These results will be determined by a "scorecard playoff" (scores will be compared by the #1 handicap hole) provided all tied matches have played that hole. Handicap holes will be used until the tie is broken with total scores.

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Players Mentioned

Natai Apichonlati

Maria Connelly

Katelin Lawson

Preaw Sripatrprasite

Julia Stevenson

Eastern Michigan Athletics