Women's Golf Preview: Kent State Set To Defend MAC Titles This Weekend
4/19/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Kent State women's golf team is set to defend 12 consecutive Mid-American Conference titles this week when the Golden Flashes take part in the 2011 MAC Championship, hosted by the University of Akron at Longaberger Golf Club in Nashport, Ohio, April 22-24.
Ranked as one of the top public access courses in the country since it opened in 1999, Longaberger will play as a par-72, 6,073 -yard course for the MAC Championship. Live stats will be available through Golf Stat.
Kent State will participate in a practice round Thursday before starting the three-round, 54-hole championship Friday morning. Teams will play 18 holes each day Friday through Sunday, weather permitting.
Since the MAC Women's Golf Championship's inception in 1999, Kent State has captured the team title. The 2011 championship marks the second straight year and seventh time in its history the tournament will be a three-round, 54-hole championship. Last year, Kent State captured the team title with a 19-stroke margin.
|
Sarah BradleySeniorCambridge, New ZealandGolfweek/Sagarin ranking: 212 2011 MAC Championship first round tee time: 9:30 a.m. 2010-11 Stroke Average: 76.90 Lowest round in 2010-11: 71 on two occasions Lowest tournament round in 2010-11: Central District Invitational (77-71-74=222) Notes: MAC Co-Golfer of the Week Feb. 17 • 2010 NGCA All-America Scholar
|
|
|
Martina GavierSeniorCordoba, ArgentinaGolfweek/Sagarin ranking: 62 2011 MAC Championship first round tee time: 10:00 a.m. 2010-11 Stroke Average: 74.20 Lowest round in 2010-11: 65 at Mercedes-Benz Championship, 3rd round Lowest tournament round in 2010-11: Mercedes-Benz Championship (73-70-65=208) Notes: 2010 MAC Golfer of the Year • 2010 MAC Championship medalist • 2010 Third-Team Academic All-America • 2010 NGCA All-America Scholar |
|
|
Mercedes GerminoJuniorNecochea, ArgentinaGolfweek/Sagarin ranking: 208 2011 MAC Championship first round tee time: 9:50 a.m. 2010-11 Stroke Average: 76.07 Lowest round in 2010-11: 71 on four occasions Lowest tournament round in 2010-11: Central District Invitational (71-71-75=217) Notes: 2009 MAC Championship medalist • 2010 NGCA All-America Scholar |
|
|
Shamira MarshallJuniorMacedonia, OhioGolfweek/Sagarin ranking: 308 2011 MAC Championship first round tee time: 9:20 a.m. 2010-11 Stroke Average: 77.03 Lowest round in 2010-11: 69 at SunTrust Lady Gator Invitational, 1st round Lowest tournament round in 2010-11: Mercedes-Benz Championship (74-74-72=220) Notes: 2010 MAC All-Tournament Team |
|
|
Mandi MorrowJuniorKent, OhioGolfweek/Sagarin ranking: 193 2011 MAC Championship first round tee time: 9:40 a.m. 2010-11 Stroke Average: 76.30 Lowest round in 2010-11: 69 at Las Vegas Showdown, 2nd round Lowest tournament round in 2010-11: Las Vegas Showdown (75-69-74=218) Notes: Third-place finish at 2011 Lady Buckeye Invitational |
|
Scouting the Tournament Field
Nine Mid-American Conference schools, including Kent State, offer women's golf. Joining Kent State at the MAC Championships is Akron, Ball State, Bowling Green, Eastern Michigan, Northern Illinois, Ohio, Toledo and Western Michigan.
Kent State is the top-ranked team according to Golfweek/Sagarin, entering the tournament ranked 33rd nationally. Western Michigan (76th) is also ranked in the top 100, while Akron, Eastern Michigan, Toledo and Ball State are ranked in the top 150.
Individually, Kent State's Martina Gavier is the highest-ranked golfer in the field according to Golfweek/Sagarin, as she is ranked 62nd overall. Brittany Kelly (180) of Ball State, Akron's Kristen Hill (188) and Kent State's Mandi Morrow (193) are also in the top 200 nationally. Kent State junior Mercedes Germino is just out of the top 200, coming in at 208.
Along with Kent State being the 12-time defending champion, the last two medalists will be participating in the 45-golfer field – Kent State's Mercedes Germino (2009) and Martina Gavier (2010). In fact, the Golden Flashes have boasted the tournament medalist 11 times in 12 tournaments.
Kent State will be paired with Toledo and Ball State in the final pairings for the first round. The Golden Flashes are slated to tee-off from the first hole between 9:20 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Next Up
The winner of the 2011 MAC Championship will receive an automatic berth to the NCAA regional round May 5-7. Each of the three regional sites (Notre Dame at Warren Golf Course, Washington at Washington National Golf Course, and Stetson at the LPGA International Legends Course) will host 24 teams, with the top eight teams from each regional advancing to the NCAA Championship at Traditions Golf Course in College Station, Texas.
