Sept. 28, 2014 Complete Results | Photo Gallery 
ROCHESTER, Mich. - Elle Nichols won medalist honors and Morgan Smith shot a final round 75 to lead the Oakland women's golf team to a runner-up finish (624/+48) on Sunday at the Golden Grizzlies Invitational, presented by Patsy Lou Automotive Group, at Katke-Cousins Golf Course (Par 72, 6,148 yards).
"There are many highlights from this weekend but I would have to say Oakland University was the ultimate winner with hundreds of spectators attending the event and positive feedback from everyone with special thanks to golf course superintendent Tom Schall for providing us a true championship experience," said coach Russ Cunningham. "Elle won her first of three state high school championships at Katke-Cousins and now she won her first college tournament here as well. Courage, determination and mental toughness are just a small sample of how to best describe the way she competes. Morgan had some great rounds during the summer so its good to see her comfortable and confident again. Alyssa Albright is playing a lot better than she's been scoring so looking forward to a break out round from her soon and the team could have used Marianna Stepp's scores this weekend."
Nichols earned medalist honors after carding a 75 to finish with a 149 (+5) for the tournament. She was one shot ahead of Ohio's Angela Codian who shot a 2-under-par 70 on Sunday. Nichols is the first Oakland player to win individual medalist honors since Liz Ecker in 2011 at the Detroit Titans Fall Classic. Smith finished third with a total score of 153 (+9), while Alyssa Albright earned a tie for 11th with a score of 157 (+13) after a final round 78.
Ohio captured the team title with an overall score of 618 (+42), six strokes in front of the Golden Grizzlies and eight shots ahead of Bowling Green.
"It requires four individuals to have success for the team to have success in this sport," added Cunningham. "If you look at our hole by hole, you'll see we made too many big numbers. These mistakes didn't allow us to benefit from our home-course advantage. This is a trend I've seen at all three events which means these players need to learn to value a bogey just as much as a birdie. It ultimately comes down to one of two things, either get better or work harder."
The Golden Grizzlies will be on the course next week when they play in the Diane Thomason Invitational, hosted by Iowa, at the Finkbine Golf Course in Iowa City.
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