Women's Golf Edges Xavier for Sunshine Invitational Championship

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- The Ball State women's golf team picked up 4.5 more points Saturday, and Manon Tounalom clinched a decisive half-point in the final match as the Cardinals edged Xavier to win the Ball State Sunshine Invitational.

Ball State finished the three-round event with 14.5 points, while Xavier was second at 14. Western Illinois moved up to third on the final day with 7.5 points, while Valparaiso was fourth and IUPUI was fifth.

The tournament came down to the final matches on the Dye Course at PGA Village with Xavier and Ball State neck and neck.

With the teams tied 13-13 and three matches remaining, Ball State's Sydney Anderson posted a 1 up victory over Madison McCreary of Valparaiso by winning her 18th hole of the day to give the Cardinals a 14-13 lead. Xavier's Mikayla Fitzpatrick defeated Amelie Svejda of IUPUI on the 18th hole of their match to even the team scores again at 14-14.

In the final match of the tournament, Tounalom of Ball State and Allie Leingang of Western Illinois finished all square to give Ball State a final half-point and the victory. It was the only match to be halved over the three rounds.

Morgan Nadaline, Holly Anderson and Liz Kim accounted for Ball State's first three points in the final round. Kim posted an 8&7 victory to match the largest victory margin of the tournament, and Nadaline was a 6&5 winner.

Kim and Holly Anderson posted perfect 3-0-0 records for the tournament, while Tounalom was unbeaten at 2-0-1 in the modified match play format.

Each team fielded a lineup of six golfers, who earned one point for winning a match and half a point for halving a match.

Ball State will return to action Feb. 23-25 with the Rio Verde Invitational in Arizona.

Final Team Standings (Points)
1. Ball State (14.5)
2. Xavier (14)
3. Western Illinois (7.5)
4. Valparaiso (6)
5. IUPUI (3)

Round 3 Results
Mikayla Smith (XU) def. Emily Knouff (BSU), 5&4
Nicole Hamilton-Cross (WIU) def. Sara Saetre (IUPUI), 8&6
Morgan Nadaline (BSU) def. Ashley Dumler (WIU), 6&5
Liz Kim (BSU) def. Mikala Mawhorter (IUPUI), 8&7
Alex Krehbiel (WIU) def. Nicole Howard (IUPUI), 7&6
Kylie Shoemake (Valpo) def. Cassidy Jurkaites (WIU), 7&6
Andie Shukow (XU) def. Shelby Schier (Valpo), 6&5
Morgan Tinsley (XU) def. Tiffany Curtis (Valpo), 8&7
Aneta Abrahamova (IUPUI) def. Katie Willenbrink (Valpo), 4&2
Holly Anderson (BSU) def. Elizabeth Orr (IUPUI), 3&1
Bridget Connolly (WIU) def. Grace Howie (XU), 1 up
Amy Kucera (XU) def. Kayla Krueger (Valpo), 5&3
Sydney Anderson (BSU) def. Madison McCreary (Valpo), 1 up
Mikayla Fitzpatrick (XU) def. Amelie Svejda (IUPUI), 1 up
Manon Tounalom (BSU) vs. Allie Leingang (WIU), halved

Round 2 Results
Holly Anderson (BSU) def. Shelby Schier (Valpo), 2&1
Kylie Shoemake (Valpo) def. Sara Saetre (IUPUI), 3&1
Emily Knouff (BSU) def. Mikala Mawhorter (IUPUI), 7&6
Amy Kucera (XU) def. Morgan Nadaline (BSU), 2&1
Cassidy Jurkaites (WIU) def. Tiffany Curtis (Valpo), 5&4
Grace Howie (XU) def. Elizabeth Orr (IUPUI), 5&4
Nicole Hamilton-Cross (WIU) def. Madison McCreary (Valpo), 8&6
Morgan Tinsley (XU) def. Nicole Howard (IUPUI), 2&1
Bridget Connolly (WIU) def. Sydney Anderson (BSU), 3&2
Liz Kim (BSU) def. Andie Shukow (XU), 3&2
Kayla Krueger (Valpo) def. Alex Krehbiel (WIU), 4&3
Mikayla Smith (XU) def. Amelie Svejda (IUPUI), 2 up
Katie Willenbrink (Valpo) def. Ashley Dumler (WIU), 3&2
Manon Tounalom (BSU) def. Mikayla Fitzpatrick (XU), 1 up
Aneta Abrahamova (IUPUI) def. Allie Leingang (WIU), 1 up

Round 1 Results
Holly Anderson (BSU) def. Shelby Schier (Valpo), 4&3
Emily Knouff (BSU) def. Sara Saetre (IUPUI), 4&3
Kylie Shoemake (Valpo) def. Mikala Mawhorter (IUPUI), 8&7
Amy Kucera (XU) def. Cassidy Jurkaites (WIU), 5&3
Morgan Nadaline (BSU) def. Tiffany Curtis (Valpo), 5&3
Grace Howie (XU) def. Nicole Hamilton-Cross (WIU), 6&5
Elizabeth Orr (IUPUI) def. Madison McCreary (Valpo), 4&3
Bridget Connolly (WIU) def. Morgan Tinsley (XU), 4&3
Sydney Anderson (BSU) def. Nicole Howard (IUPUI), 3&2
Andie Shukow (XU) def. Alex Krehbiel (WIU), 2 up
Liz Kim (BSU) def. Kayla Krueger (Valpo), 6&5
Mikayla Smith (XU) def. Ashley Dumler (WIU), 4&3
Katie Willenbrink (Valpo) def. Amelie Svejda (IUPUI), 1 up
Mikayla Fitzpatrick (XU) def. Allie Leingang (WIU), 4&3
Manon Tounalom (BSU) def. Aneta Abrahamova (IUPUI), 6&5

Women's Golf Edges Xavier for Sunshine Invitational Championship

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Players Mentioned

Holly Anderson

Sydney Anderson

Liz Kim

Emily Knouff

Morgan Nadaline

Manon Tounalom