Indianapolis, IN ? For the tenth consecutive season, the Kent State Golden Flashes have captured the Mid-American Conference Women’s Golf Championship. KSU finished with a 72-hole total of 1177 on the Brickyard Course in Indianapolis, Indiana, 51 strokes ahead of the runner-up Eastern Michigan.
Kent State’s fourth round team total of 280 was the lowest round score in MAC tournament history. Senior Kirby Dreher captured her first ever tournament win shooting a 69 in the fourth round and 291 for the weekend. Following three strokes behind in second place was teammate Tara Delaney with a 294 (74-75-75-70) and in third place, also from KSU was Kira Meixner with a 298 (74-74-77-73).
Following the championship the teams enjoyed the postseason awards cookout at which the All-MAC and specialty awards were announced. Kent State’s head coach Mike Morrow was named MAC Coach of the Year for the seventh time in 10 years. Meixner was named Golfer of the Year, this is the ninth consecutive season a Golden Flash golfer has been tabbed with this honor. Also from Kent State receiving top honors was Martina Gavier who was voted Freshman of the Year. Receiving the Sportswomen of the Year was Western Michigan’s Laura Bavaird as voted by her peers.
Team Scores: 1. Kent State (1177); 2. Eastern Michigan (1228); 3. Toledo (1232); 4. Western Michigan (1272); 5. Ball State (1277); 6. Ohio (1297); 7. Northern Illinois (1308); 8. Bowling Green State (1310).
Top 10 Individual Scores: 1. Kirby Dreher (KSU) 291; 2. Tara Delaney (KSU) 294; 3. Kira Meixner (KSU) 298; T-4. Joanna Periversoff (UT) 299, Maddi Swaney (KSU) 299; 6. Stephany Fleet (EMU) 302; T-7 Catherine Fortin (EMU) 304, Martina Gavier (KSU) 304; 9. Courtney Aili (EMU) 308; 10. Boram Lee (UT) 310.
All-Tournament Team
Kirby Dreher, Junior, Kent State
Tara Delaney, Senior, Kent State
Kira Meixner, Senior, Kent State
Maddie Swaney, Junior, Kent State
Joanna Periversoff, Senior, Toledo
Second Team All-MAC
Laura Bavaird, Senior, Western Michigan
Stephany Fleet, Junior, Eastern Michigan
Boram Lee, Junior, Toledo
Kirsty O’Connor, Sophomore, Ball State
Maddi Swaney, Junior, Kent State
First Team All-MAC
Tara Delaney, Senior, Kent State
Kirby Dreher, Junior, Kent State
Catherine Fortin, Senior, Eastern Michigan
Martina Gavier, Freshman, Kent State
Kira Meixner, Senior, Kent State
Sportswomen of the Year
Laura Bavaird, Senior, Western Michigan
Freshman of the Year
Martina Gavier, Kent State
Golfer of the Year
Kira Mexiner, Senior, Kent State
Coach of the Year
Mike Morrow, Kent State
Third Place
Kira Meixner, Kent State (298)
Second Place
Tara Delaney, Kent State (294)
First Place
Kirby Dreher, Kent State (291)
Team Runner-Up
Eastern Michigan (1228)
MAC Champion
Kent State (1177)