Ferris State Holds Onto Day One Lead To Emerge As Bulldog Invitational Champions

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University women's golf team claimed its first championship of the 2016-17 campaign as FSU won its own Bulldog Invitational held Saturday and Sunday (Sept. 17-18) at Katke Golf Course in Big Rapids.

The Bulldogs grabbed the first-day lead with a 321 score on Saturday and then posted a 314 figure in the final 18 holes of action on Sunday to finish with a 635 figure.

FSU wound up one stroke ahead of runner-up Lewis (Ill.), which shot 324 in round one and 312 in round two to net a 636 total in the 36-hole event.

The Bulldog women joined the Ferris State men's squad, which won the GLIAC North Invitational in South Haven, as weekend champions.

"The women's team played well today and kept the team trophy where it belongs here at home," said first-year FSU head coach Kyle Wittenbach. "Morgan Zloto played solid and kept us in it and her teammates didn't disappoint."

A total of eight squads competed in the weekend event on the par 72 course measuring 5,858 yards. Wayne State earned third place (645) with Northwood fourth (646) and Tiffin fifth (647) in the field.

Individually, FSU's Zloto shared first place honors with Northwood's Danielle Little and Hannah Schultz of Lewis as all three recorded 157 totals in the tournament. Zloto finished +13 for the two days with a 79 in round one and a 78 in the second round.

FSU's Sydney Murphy tied for ninth place overall with a 160 total as she shot a first-round 82 followed by a 78 in the second round of action.

Meanwhile, senior Elizabeth Bauernfeind came in tied for 11th as did FSU's Jordan Duvall with both finishing at 161 or +17 overall. Bauernfeind fired a 82 in the opening round and registered a 79 in the final 18 holes of competition. Duvall had a 78 in the first round and posted a 83 on the final day.

The Bulldogs' Destiny Lawson was tied for 15th with a 162 on rounds of 83 and 79 over the two days, respectively.

Ferris State also had seven other golfers compete as individuals with senior Kelsey McKinley and Danielle Frank placing highest of the group. Both shared 29th place overall with 167 totals.

The Bulldogs are back in action on Oct. 3-4 at the Northwood Invitational in Midland.