Ohio State claims Big Ten team title, individual medalist
Ohio State's winning team (Ohio State Athletics/Twitter photo)
Ohio State lost its top scorer at the end of the fall season when Jaclyn Lee earned professional status at the LPGA Q-Series then turned professional shortly after. Still, the Buckeyes prevailed in the Big Ten Championship on Sunday, claiming their 18th league title in history and the 11th under head coach Therese Hession.
Hession liked how her team beat the odds.
“This would be one of the most unlikely championships,” she said. “I knew in my heart we had it in us but we had to put it all together. It’s ironic how the week worked with Jack (Nicklaus) coming in and talking to the team about how to win before we came out and did this over the weekend. We stuck to the game plan and minimized our mistakes. I’m so proud of this team.”
The Big 10 Women’s Championship is a play-six-count-five format, and all corners of the lineup contributed. Ohio State finished the 36-hole championship (the second round was cancelled due to weather) at TPC River’s Ben in Maineville, Ohio at 1 under. The Buckeyes were 7 under in the second 18 holes, and needed every shot to hold off Illinois, Purdue and Indiana, who tied for second at 2 over.
Ohio State freshman Aneka Seumantufa contributed a 1-under 69 and for fifth. Fellow freshmen Skylar Thompson and Lauren Peter, were T-24 and T-33, respectively.
Sophomore Yukie Sasaki notched a 2-over 74 to tie for 56th, while junior Adeena Shears rounded out the Buckeye lineup, tying for 69th after a final-round 75.
Niki Schroeder earned co-medalist honors, the 15th time a Buckeye has been crowned a Big Ten medalist, after carding a bogey-free, career-low, 6-under 66 in the final round.
“This is really special,” Schroeder said. “I was focused on playing well for the team and we all knew what we had to do to be successful this weekend. It’s been a crazy year. It has tested me personally being a senior on this team but it was all worth it after being able to walk off that green knowing what we accomplished.”
Information from Ohio State Athletics used in this report
ABOUT THE
Big Ten Women's Championship
54-hole stroke-play event to decide the women's
golf
champion of
the Big 10 Conference. Team (best four scores out
of
six players each round) and individual competitions.
View Complete Tournament Information