Strong Back Nine Sends Women's Golf to Conference Title

by YSU

Tuesday, Apr 28, 2015 8:27 am

The Youngstown State women's golf team outscored Oakland by 12 shots over the final nine holes to pull away for an 11-shot victory in the Horizon League Championship on Sunday at the Mission Inn Golf and Tennis Resort.

Junior Emily Dixon was four-under par on the back nine and won Medalist honors by one shot, and she was joined in the top five by seniors Allison Mitzel and Aislynn Merling. Dixon is YSU's fourth individual champion in its Horizon League era, and the Penguins won the team title for the first time since 2009.

On Sunday, the Penguins shot a 312 and ended with a 926 for the tournament. Oakland finished with a 319 for its final round and finished with a 937. YSU entered play on Sunday with a four-shot lead.

Dixon carded a three-round total of 224 for the Championships with rounds of 75, 77 and an even-par 72. Dixon was in third place to start the day, eight shots behind leader Morgan Smith on Oakland. On Sunday, Smith shot an 81 as Dixon was able to erase the deficit and earn the victory.

Dixon had a 39 through nine holes before catching fire on the back nine. She shot a four-under par 33 on the back nine with birdies at No. 12, 14, 16 and 17.

Mitzel finished in a tie for third with a 232, Merling was fourth with a 233, Emily Rohanna finished 12th with a 239 and Courtney Shutt was 13th with a 241.

Mitzel had a final-round 81. She carded a two-over par 37 on the front side before finishing with a 44 on the back nine. Merling finished with a final round 78 in a round that featured four birdies. She had birdies at No. 5, No. 12, No. 14 and No. 16 on the day.

Rohanna carded an 83 to finish with her 239. On Sunday, she shot a 40 on the front nine and a 43 on the back nine. Shutt had an 81 and was just behind Rohanna in the standings. After firing a 41 on the front nine she had a 40 on the back side including a birdie at No. 15.

In the team race, Oakland had the early momentum on Sunday and trailed by just one stroke at the midway point of the day. But YSU's back nine play once again proved to be the difference.

The Guins had scores of 33, 38, 40 and 44 on the back nine for a total of 155 while Oakland had scores of 40, 41, 41, 43 for a 165.

The NCAA selection show is 7 p.m. on Monday on the Golf Channel.

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