Release courtesy of the GVSU Sports Information Department

ASHLAND, Ohio - After trailing by 14 strokes after Friday's opening round of 36 holes, Grand Valley State University put together a terrific 18-hole round on Saturday (Apr. 23) in Ashland, Ohio to capture its fourth consecutive GLIAC Women's Golf Championship. The Lakers' score of 317 on Saturday was 17 strokes better than Ashland University and enough for GVSU to win the team title by three strokes. All five Laker golfers placed in the top-15, with three GVSU players finishing in the top-five, as the program notched its eighth league championship.

Grand Valley State sat in second place after the completion of Friday's rounds with a 649 (+73), while Ashland was in first with a 635 (+59). But the Lakers used their lowest score of the weekend (and the second-lowest round of any team either day) to total a 966 (+102), finishing ahead of Ashland (969, +105). GVSU's three 18-hole rounds were 322, 327, and 317 for their first-place score. Ferris State University (1,004, +140) came in third place, while The University of Findlay (1,016, +152) and Northwood University (1,050, +186) tallied fourth and fifth-place finishes, respectively.

While Ashland had the tournament medalist (Erin Misheff with a 230, +14) and the second-highest finisher, GVSU brought home the next three spots. Junior Sarah Hoffman took home a third-place spot with a 239 (+23), as she got consistently better in the three rounds and shot 82-79-78. In her first conference championship, freshman Veronica Ryan was very strong and tallied a fourth-place finish. Ryan shot 78-83-81 for a 242 (+26). Hoffman and Ryan were joined in the top-five by sophomore Ashley Beard. Tallying a fifth-place finish, Beard totaled a 243 (+27) by shooting 79-84-80, giving the Lakers quite a trio near the top of the leaderboard.

Senior Allie Tyler tied for 11th place with a 251 (+35) in her final GLIAC Championship, as she used rounds of 91-82-78 for her tally, consistently getting better over the 54-hole tournament. Earning a solid 15th place finish was sophomore Marni Weinstein, who shot 83-83-89 for a 255 (+39).

The Lakers has captured GLIAC Championships in 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011.

After the tournament, the conference awards were handed out and GVSU was well-represented throughout the ceremony. Tyler was named to the All-GLIAC First Team for the third team, also earning that distinction each of the past two seasons. She was an All-GLIAC Second Team choice during her freshman year. Hoffman was also an All-GLIAC First Team selection, marking the second time she has been named to the league's top team.

Beard, last year's GLIAC Freshman of the Year, was named to the All-GLIAC Second Team for the second consecutive season and was joined by Ryan, who earned her first league distinction. Grand Valley State head coach Rebecca Mailloux was named the GLIAC Coach of the Year for the second straight season. The tournament medalist was Ashland's Erin Misheff, while AU's Annie Miles was tabbed the GLIAC Player of the Year. Ferris State's Jacqueline DeBoer earned GLIAC Freshman of the Year honors.

GVSU heads to the NCAA Midwest Regional Tournament on May 1-3 in Belle Vernon, Pa. The top three teams will advance to the NCAA Division II National Championships on May 11-14, being hosted at The Meadows in Allendale.

Click here for Final Team Results

Click her for Final Individual Results

Click here for Final Summary