FINAL RESULTS

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ohio – There was little doubt left by the Otterbein women's golf team in repeating as Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) champions Sunday at River Greens, as the Cardinals finished off a rather convincing wire-to-wire victory for another league crown.

Unlike last spring, when the Cards had to survive a team playoff with Ohio Northern, the 2023 version went down much more comfortably in besting the Polar Bears by a healthy 38 shots over the three days (four rounds). ONU was more than 100 shots better than Mount Union in third place.

As a result, Otterbein earns the league's automatic bid to play in the upcoming NCAA Division III Championships come May 9-12 at Mission Inn Resort down in Florida.

Otterbein and ONU were deadlock with collective efforts of 311 after the first round, but the Cards began to create separation with another nine holes to conclude Friday. That stretch provided a 14-stroke advantage midway through the second round.

The Cards widened that cushion over another 27 holes Saturday, officially beating the Polar Bears by 12 shots in round two and then by double digits again in round three. Otterbein's consistent stretch of 311-314-313 allowed the group a 23-shot margin leading into Championship Sunday…

"Our big key was going into every round with a mental reset," head coach Brian Booher said. "Our message all week was that it's a weekend marathon, not a sprint. If you win each day, you win the whole thing."

Staying on the gas pedal, and dealing with much colder temperatures, the group remain locked in and refusing to give an inch to ONU in what had become a two-horse race. The Cards pushed the gap to more than 30 strokes by the turn and delivered its biggest round differential of the weekend.

All five players in the Otterbein lineup finished in the Top 10 to warrant All-OAC status, led by freshman Becky Williams winning the individual title as medalist. She was one-under par through 12 holes of her second round and closed strong as well, holding off Ohio Northern standout Grace Honigford by four shots.

"It's a big bonus to know that we have scores coming from all players," Booher added. "It remains a well-rounded lineup with no real weak spot. I think that's a major plus for anyone that might be struggling during a random stretch, knowing someone is likely going to pick them up."

Emma McGreal took third place alone, resting just one shot back of Honigford after working through a final round 84. The junior shot 75-76-79 over her first three rounds. She was one-under par across her final 12 holes in the second trip, and admirably battled back from carding a nine early in the third round to still break 80.

Alexa Luebbe took sixth in her first OAC Championships, opening strong with an initial 77 that saw two early birdies by taking advantage of the Par 5's. She continued excelling on the front nine to begin her third round with three-straight birdies, enjoying red figures at the turn.

Jackie Adler rose two spots on Sunday to land T-7, grinding back from a pair of 83's to post consecutive trips of 80 in culmination. She had two birdies in the third round and played the final eight holes of her championship in just one-over par.

Rachel Hatley was just a few shots behind in rounding out the potent Cardinal lineup, notching another all-conference award despite grinding through a challenging final stretch of holes. Prior to that, the senior carded 79 in an opening round that featured one birdie and seven pars over the last 13 holes.