Germino, Ha Vault Flashes to 14th Consecutive MAC Championship
4/29/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
Kent State reaps postseason awards as Ha, Germino and Morrow earn top specialty accolades
FISHERS, Ind. – The Kent State women's golf team continued its streak of Mid-American Conference success Sunday as the Golden Flashes captured their 14th consecutive MAC championship at the Hawthorns Golf and Country Club.
Kent State won by 16 strokes over Ball State thanks to a team score of 12-over 300, the team's lowest score of the tournament and second-lowest of the tournament.
Senior Mercedes Germino (Necochea, Argentina) shot a two-over 74 on Sunday, missing a tie for first place by one stroke to finish third overall with an eight-over 224. Following Sunday's round, Germino was voted the MAC's Golfer of the Year, marking the 13th time in 14 years of program history a Kent State golfer has earned the honor.
Freshman Jennifer Ha (Calgary, Alberta), who was named the 2012 MAC Freshman of the Year, turned in an even-par 72 on Sunday for Kent State's low score. Her effort vaulted her into a tie for fourth place to earn MAC All-Tournament team accolades.
Joining Germino and Ha on the all-tournament team were senior Shamira Marshall (Macedonia, Ohio) and sophomore Erin Hawe (Walton, New Zealand), who tied for fourth with Ha with 13-over 229.
Senior Mandi Morrow (Kent, Ohio) posted her best round of the tournament with a six-over 78 on Sunday, moving up to a tie for 14th place with a 23-over 239.
While Germino and Ha earned top player honors, Kent State head coach Mike Morrow was named MAC Coach of the Year for the 10th time and first time since 2009.
For the second straight year and seventh time in 14 seasons, all five Kent State starters earned all-MAC accolades. Germino and Ha were named to the all-MAC first team, while Hawe, Marshall and Morrow were second-team all-MAC selections. Germino's first-team honor was the third of her career, while Morrow and Marshall were second-team honorees for the second consecutive year.
Kent State will find out their draw for the 2012 NCAA Regional round Monday, April 30 at 9 p.m. Visit ncaa.com for live video of the selection show.
2012 Final Team Standings
1 Kent State (908)
2 Ball State (924)
3 Toledo (927)
4 Eastern Michigan (951)
5 Akron (961)
6 Western Michigan (973)
7 Ohio (993)
T-8 Bowling Green (999)
T-8 Northern Illinois (999)
2012 Individual Champion
Jenna Hague, Ball State
2012 Runner-up Medalist
Piyathida Chaiyapan, Toledo
2012 MAC All-Tournament Team
Jenna Hague, Ball State
Mercedes Germino, Kent State
Jennifer Ha, Kent State
Erin Hawe, Kent State
Shamira Marshall, Kent State
Piyathida Chaiyapan, Toledo
2012 Women's Golf All-MAC First Team
Kristen Hill, Akron
Sarah Johnson, Eastern Michigan
Shannon Warner, Eastern Michigan
Mercedes Germino, Kent State
Jennifer Ha, Kent State
2012 Women's Golf All-MAC Second Team
Jenna Hague, Ball State
Erin Hawe, Kent State
Shamira Marshall, Kent State
Mandi Morrow, Kent State
Piyathida Chaiyapan, Toledo
2012 Freshman of the Year
Jennifer Ha, Kent State
2012 Golfer of the Year
Mercedes Germino, Kent State
2012 Coach of the Year
Mike Morrow, Kent State
