HOWEY-IN-THE-HILLS, Fla. – For the third consecutive season, the Oakland University women's golf team has won the Horizon League Championship at the El Campeon Course at Mission Inn Resort + Club. The title is the Golden Grizzlies' fourth in the past five years and moves the program into second place in league history for the most team championships by a school, with five overall.
"The ladies fought out there all three days," head coach Heather Fortushniak said. "They set themselves up well going into the third day with a little lead. I am so proud of this team for sticking together the season…what we do as a collective group on and off the golf course means so much more than just one person on this team."
Over the three days of competition from April 19 to April 21, Oakland held onto the top spot, finishing the tournament with a final team score of 933 (+57) on the par-73, 6,038-yard course. This season, the Golden Grizzlies led the Horizon League during competition through three-straight invitationals, including the NKU Jewell Invitational and the Dolores Black Falcon Invitational.
Juniors Olivia Hemmila and Lily Bargamian finished in the top five in conference play for the second consecutive season, both tying for fourth place with a score of 231 (+12). Hemmila ranked in the top-10 in multiple categories, including second in par-four average (4.19), tied for fifth in par-three average (3.17), and tied for sixth in birdies made with six. Bargamian also posted multiple top-10 finishes, tying for second in par-three average (3.08), tying for third in pars made (35), and tying for eighth in par-four average (4.30).
With their top-five finishes at the championship, both Hemmila and Bargamian earned All-Tournament Team honors for the second straight season.
Also finishing in the individual top 10, freshman Logan Bentley recorded a season-high finish of sixth with a score of 232 (+13). Bentley was one of two freshmen to finish among the top six golfers at this year's tournament, alongside Northern Kentucky's Cammy Reed, who placed third. Overall, Bentley ranked second in birdies made (eight), third in par-four average (4.22), and fourth in par-five average (5.00).
Earning a top-20 finish, freshman Channing Hagen tied for 19th at 242 (+23) and ranked in the top 10 in pars made with 33. Senior Grace Boczar competed in the first round of the tournament, ranking in the top five in par-three average (3.50) and tied for ninth in par-five average (5.40) before fellow senior Paige Scott subbed in for the final two rounds, and achieved a top-five finish in par-three average with a 3.25.
As a team, the Golden Grizzlies ranked in the top two in every statistical category. The team was first in par-four average (4.37), birdies made (23), and pars made (156), and second in par-three average (3.35) and par-five average (5.23). Throughout the tournament, Oakland stayed on top, showing why it is the best golf program in the Horizon League.
"'Team First' was our motto all year, and the ladies have done a phenomenal job of putting each other first," Fortushniak said. "I am very lucky to have had a front-row seat to this amazing group of young women, and we are very excited to see where we are off to next."
OU RESULTS
Team: 309 | 307 | 317 = 933 (+57)
T4. Olivia Hemmila: 75 | 74 | 82 = 231 (+12)
T4. Lily Bargamian: 75 | 79 | 77 = 231 (+12)
T6. Logan Bentley: 79 | 74 | 79 = 232 (+13)
T19. Channing Hagen (IND): 80 | 80 | 82 = 242 (+23)
30. Paige Scott: SUB | 82 | 79 = 161 (N/A)
T38. Grace Boczar: 86 | SUB | SUB = 86 (N/A)
FINAL RESULTS
- Oakland: 933 (+57)
- Youngstown State: 945 (+69)
- Northern Kentucky: 946 (+70)
- Purdue Fort Wayne: 955 (+79)
- Green Bay: 958 (+82)
- IU Indianapolis: 960 (+84)
- Detroit Mercy: 963 (+87)
Complete results of the invitational can be found on Clippd.
UP NEXT: With the Horizon League Championship title, Oakland has earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Women's Golf Championships. Qualifiers will be split among six regional sites, which will be announced during this year's selection show on Wednesday, April 29, at 4 p.m. ET on the Golf Channel.
How to Follow Oakland Women's Golf: For complete information on Oakland Women's Golf, follow the team on
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@OaklandWGolf.
