MUSCLE SHOALS, Ala. – In its bid for back-to-back Ohio Valley Conference Championships, the Eastern Kentucky University’s women’s golf team came up just short during the final round on Wednesday. The Colonels led after the first two rounds, but Murray State came from behind to win by two shots.
Anna Gleixner placed second overall. The sophomore had a 36-hole total of 225 and finished 13 shots behind individual medalist Delaney Howson (212) of Murray State.
Eastern began the day with a six shot lead over the Racers. However, the Colonels shot a final round 318 while MSU concluded with a 310. Eastern Kentucky’s three-day total of 917 was two shots behind Murray State’s 915.
Jacksonville State (923) placed third, six shots behind EKU.
Gleixner birdied two of the first three holes and was 2-over at the turn. A three-hole stretch early on the back nine, including a bogey and two doubles, pushed her to 7-over. She wrapped up the round with two bogeys and another birdie on the final three holes to finish 8-over.
Sofie Levin was putting together a solid final round before finding trouble on the final three holes. She made the turn at 3-over but had two birdies and four pars on the next six holes to get to 1-over. A bogey on the par-4 No. 16 and a double on the par-3 No. 18 dropped her to 4-over for the day. Her 36-hole total of 229 tied for fifth overall.
Gleixner and Levin earned OVC All-Tournament honors.
Rachel Welker concluded play with an 81 and a three-round total of 233. She finished tied for 11th. Emilie Simmons shot a final round 82 to complete her first OVC Championship with a total of 234 and in 15th place. Becky Sharpe closed play with an 81 as well and finished tied for 16th with a three-day total of 235.
Morehead State (927) placed fourth. Tennessee Tech (934)) and Austin Peay (949) finished in fifth and sixth respectively. Belmont (971) and SIU Edwardsville (988) were seventh and eighth. Eastern Illinois (1026) and Tennessee State (1066) rounded out the 11-team event.
The 2014 OVC Championship was played at The Fighting Joe course at The Shoals. The course had a par of 72 and played 6,203 yards.
2. Eastern Kentucky 295-304-318 – 917 +53
2. Anna Gleixner 72-73-80 – 225 +9
T5. Sofie Levin 77-76-76 – 229 +13
T11. Rachel Welker 73-79-81 – 233 +17
15. Emilie Simmons 76-76-82 – 234 +18
T16. Becky Sharpe 74-80-81 – 235 +19
