Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
Bulldog Florida Invitational
Sear, Women?s Golf Claim Titles in Jacksonville
March 10, 2016 | Women's Golf
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Kelsey Sear fired a final-round 73 (+1) to lead the Ball State women's golf team to the team championship and claim individual medalist honors Thursday at the Bulldog Florida Invitational.
The Cardinals finished the 36-hole event tied for first place with Mid-American Conference rival Western Michigan and earned the win based on a better fifth-player score. Ball State's fifth score Thursday was an 86 from Sydney Anderson, while the Broncos' fifth score was an 87.
The teams posted identical scores in both rounds of the event for final totals of 631 (313-318). Richmond was three shots back in third place, while tournament host Butler was fourth among the eight-team field at Windsor Parke Golf Club.
“This was an important week for us,” Ball State coach Katherine Mowat said. “With it being spring break, it was essentially a training week. We put in a lot of time, and the ultimate goal was winning this tournament. A great score from Kelsey today really led us to victory and allowed her to win individually.”
Sear started the day in a tie for seventh place but moved to the top of the leaderboard with her 73, the low round of the tournament in challenging, windy conditions. The junior from Unionville, Ontario, finished with a 6-over par total of 150 to edge out Western Michigan's Claire Hernandez and Evansville's Kayla Katterhenry by one stroke.
It was the second collegiate victory for Sear, who won the Marian University Spring Classic as a freshman two years ago.
“The course was conducive to Kelsey's aggressive play,” Mowat said. “There were par 5's she could reach, and she took advantage for several two-putt birdies. She knew it was a course that would yield good scores but still demanded good shots. If she made a mistake, there were enough birdie opportunities for her to make up for it, and she capitalized on them.”
In addition to Sear's 73, Ball State also counted a 79 from Morgan Nadaline and a pair of 83s from Allison Lindley and Meghan McDougall in the final round.
Lindley, who shared the first-round lead, finished in a tie for ninth with a total of 158, while Nadaline (T-18) and Anderson (T-23) also placed among the top 25. Kayla Adamson, competing as an individual, placed 15th with a score of 161.
Ball State will return to action in the Sunshine State yet again later this month, competing March 20-22 at the MSU Spring Citrus Challenge in Sorrento, Fla.
Ball State Scores
1. Ball State, 631 (+55): 313-318
1. Kelsey Sear, 150 (+6): 77-73
T9. Allison Lindley, 158 (+14): 75-83
15. Kayla Adamson, 161 (+17): 79-82*
T18. Morgan Nadaline, 163 (+19): 84-79
T23. Sydney Anderson, 164 (+20): 78-86
T30. Meghan McDougall, 166 (+22): 83-83
49. Karley Dobis, 178 (+34): 85-93*
*competed as individuals
