Oakland University Athletics

Golden Grizzlies Excel as Season Comes to an End

The Oakland University women?s golf team improved greatly in their second season under head coach Dave DeWulf. They took first place at the North/South Women?s Collegiate, as well as second place finishes at the Findlay/William Bing Beall Fall Classic and the Mercer Invitational. The Grizzlies ended their season impressively finishing runner-up to five-time defending champion Oral Roberts at the Mid-Continent Conference Championship. Senior Cheryl Tooshkenig (Wallaceburg, Ontario/Kent State) led the way for OU as she guided the team in all six tournaments she participated in. Tooshkenig finished the season with an average of 76.7. Following her was senior Connie Apalit (Pittsburg, California/Pittsburg HS) who averaged 82.4 strokes per round.

The season began at the Cardinal Classic in Muncie, Indiana on September 8-9. After the first day of play for the 2001-2002 season the Oakland University women's golf team stand in seventh place out of 12 teams through first 18 holes. The Golden Grizzlies recorded a 356 behind Butler (319), Eastern Michigan (322), Western Michigan (323), Bowling Green (328), Ball State Red (336) and Dayton Red (341).

The women's golf team played the second and final round on Sunday. Despite a 17-stroke improvement in the second day of play, the Golden Grizzlies couldn't improve on their seventh-place standing from Saturday at the Cardinal Classic. Oakland completed its first tournament of the season in seventh place with a two-day total of 695 (356-339). The Cardinal Classic was hosted by Ball State University and played at The Players Club, a par 72, 6,145 yard event. Oakland finished seventh behind champions Western Michigan (645), Eastern Michigan (648), Butler (652), Bowling Green (657), Ball State (669) and Dayton (682) and in front of five schools, including two Mid-Continent Conference opponents -- IUPUI (710/8th) and Chicago State (754/10th). Leading the way for the Golden Grizzlies was sophomore Mara Mazzoni (Livonia/Schoolcraft College) who finished in a tie for 15th place overall after shooting 87-81--168. Apalit and Emily Minnich (Geneva, Indiana/South Adams HS) followed for OU tied for 26th with 173s. Junior Jenny Quinn(Bloomfield Hills/Lahser HS) and sophomore Sarah Stark (Battle Creek/Ferris State) round off the OU golfers in a tie for 40th place with 181 and 58th place with 209, respectively.

The Oakland University women's golf team continued it?s fall season as the Golden Grizzlies participated in the Lady Falcon Invitational. OU finished the first round of play in fifth place Saturday, September 22. The Golden Grizzlies recorded a 326 on the par 72, 5,861-yard Forrest Creason Golf Course. The Lady Falcon Invite is hosted by Bowling Green State University. The Golden Grizzlies had three golfers finish in the top 20 led by Connie Apalit who recorded a first round 75 to lead the Golden Grizzlies.Following right behind Apalit was Mazzoni and Minnich in a tie for eighth place after shooting 77s in the first round. The Golden Grizzlies played their second round at the Lady Falcon Invitational on Sunday, September 23. The OU women's golf team claimed sixth place. The University of Toledo claimed the team championship shooting 618 (303-315) in the two-day event and Western Michigan's Erica Bienick won the individual title with her 148 (71-77). Oakland recorded a two-day 661 (326-335) for the sixth-place finish. Leading the way for the Golden Grizzlies was Connie Apalit who finished in a tie for sixth place after shooting a two-day 155 (75-80). Mara Mazzoni followed closely behind in a tie for 12th place after shooting 158 (77-81). Rounding off the top five for OU were Minnich in a tie for 23rd (77-85--162), Quinn in 51st place (98-89--187) and Goodvich (Rochester/Bishop Foley HS) in 54th (97-107--204).

Oakland wrapped up fall play at the Findlay/William Bing Beall Fall Classic in Findlay, Ohio September 30-October 1. The Golden Grizzly women's golf team claimed second place. The tournament was played on the par 72, 5,816-yard Sycamore Spring Country Club Golf Course.

OU finished second after shooting 326-339--665 in the two-day event. Grand Valley won the team title (324-327--651) and Ferris State's Jenn Soltis won the individual championship (76-76--152). Apalit led the way for the Golden Grizzlies shooting 75-77--152 and finishing second individually. Minnich also finished in the top 10 for the Golden Grizzlies as she tied for fourth place. Minnich shot 81-83--164 for the fourth-place rank. Quinn finished in a tie for 15th, while Mazzoni claimed a tie for 18th place. Quinn shot 84-90--174, while Mazzoni recorded an 86-89--175. Sophomore Tera Van Tiem (Utica/Utica HS) and Sarah Stark rounded off the Golden Grizzlies six. Van Tiem finished 31st overall after shooting a season-best 95-90--185. Stark recorded a 97-93--190 for her tie for 32^nd.

The women's golf team wrapped up it?s fall season October 12-13 at the Eastern Kentucky Fall Invitational in Richmond, Kentucky. The Golden Grizzlies stood in a tie for seventh place after the first 18 holes. The EKU Fall Invite is being played in the Arlington Golf Course, a par 72, 6,193-yard course. The Oakland University women's golf team finished the final round with a 10th-place finish at the Eastern Kentucky University Fall Invitational. Oakland shot a 351 in its final day of play for a two-day 687 (336 day one). Butler claimed the team title after shooting 322-325--647 in the two-day event. The Golden Grizzlies finished in front of five schools, including Mid-Continent Conference opponent IUPUI, who finished 15th after shooting 707. Apalit led the Golden Grizzlies with a tie for fourth place shooting an 82 on Saturday. Apalit recorded a 75 in the opening round and finished with a 157. Minnich followed with her 27th place tie and a two-day 168 (85-83). Mazzoni, Quinn and Van Tiem rounded off the top five for OU in 60th, 69th and 82nd places, respectively. Mazzoni shot 87-92--179 for her 60th-place tie, while Quinn shot 89-94--183 on Friday and Saturday for her 69th-place finish. Van Tiem shot 96 in both rounds for 82nd place. Also playing the EKU Fall Invitational as individuals were Kathy Goodvich and Sarah Stark. Goodvich finished 89th (105-98--203) and Stark finished 91st overall (108-99--207).

The Oakland University women's golf team opened the 2001-2002 spring season by claiming second place at the Mercer Invitaional in Macon, Georgia, February 25-26. OU's Cheryl Tooshkenig shot an 11-over-par 155 to win the individual title. Tooshkenig finished seven strokes better than the next golfer. The Golden Grizzlies finished second to Tennessee Tech who shot a two-day 669 (340-329). Oakland recorded a 347 in the first round and a 345 on day two for the second place 692. Tennessee Tech placed individuals in second, third and fourth place to insure the team title. Following Tooshkenig's performance for the Golden Grizzlies was Apalit who finished seventh overall after shooting 88-89--177. Quinn shot a two round 179 (90-89) and finished in a tie for eighth place, while Mazzoni finished in a tie for 11th shooting 92-89--181. Minnich rounded off the Oakland roster in a tie for 17th place after shooting 93-91--184.

Next up for the Grizzlies was the Centenary College Spring Invitational in Shreveport, Louisiana. The Oakland University women's golf team finished eighth out of 13 teams. Tooshkenig led the Golden Grizzlies shooting a two-day 162 and finishing fifth overall. Oakland finished eighth after recording a two-day 693 (340-353). OU finished behind Sam Houston State (671), Oral Roberts (671), McLennan CC (671), Southwest Missouri State (681), McNeese State (681), Idaho State (688) and Southwest Texas State (690). Tooshkenig shot 83 on the first day of play and followed with a 79 in the final round. Minnich followed for the Golden Grizzlies finishing 26th overall after shooting 82-92--174, while Mara Mazzoni finished 27th (84-91--175). Apalit and Quinn rounded off the Oakland scorers in the tourney. Apalit finished in a tie for 47th (91-91--182), while Quinn finished in a tie for 58th (93-99--192).

The Oakland University women's golf team continued it?s spring season by picking up it's first top finish of the year as OU participated in the North-South Women's Collegiate Invite, March 12-13, in Jacksonville, Florida. Along with claiming the team top spot OU collected the top individual finish as well. Tooshkening collected her second victory of the season as she her two day total was 152 (78-74). Mazzoni accompanied Tooshkening in the top three as she was second with a 159 (75-84). Apalit shot a 166 (87-79), which was good for 12th place, and rounding out the top 20 finishers from OU was Minnich as she shot a 168 (89-79) which was good for 15th place.

Next, the Golden Grizzlies traveled to The Moors Golf Club in Portage, Michigan. The Grizzlies finished third at the Bronco Invitational April 7-8. The tournament was hosted by Western Michigan University. The Moors GC is a par 73, 5,954 yard course. OU's Tooshkenig finished in a tie for second to lead Oakland. The Golden Grizzlies shot a two-day 655 (326-329) and finished third behind Toledo (323-320--643) and Eastern Michigan (321-328--649). Oakland finished in front of Western Michigan (328-331--659), Bowling Green (333-327--660), Eastern Illinois (337-327--664), Grand Valley State (335-334--669), Ball State (340-337--677), Ferris State (346-356--702) and Loyola (352-354--706). Leading the way for Oakland for the fourth tournament in a row was Tooshkenig. Tooshkenig finished in a tie for second after shooting 74-82--156. Eastern Michigan's Kelly Pickett earned medalist honors shooting a 75-79--154 in the two-day event. Oakland's Mazzoni and Apalit also finished in the top 20 at the Bronco Invite. Mazzoni shot 81-83--164 for a 11th-place tie, while Apalit shot 87-79--166 for a 15th-place tie. Minnich finished 26th overall after shooting 84-85--169 and Quinn finished 60th after shooting 101-89--190. Tooshkenig posted a top 10 finish at the Bronco Invitational and was named Mid-Continent Conference Golfer of the Week. Tooshkenig helped the Golden Grizzlies to a third-place finish at the Bronco Invitational. She tied for second in the event with a two-round score of 156, which included a first-round 74, the best round of the tournament that also tied her best round of the season. Tooshkenig?s effort moved her into first place among the league?s scoring leaders.

The Golden Grizzlies were in action again April 11-13 at Eastern Kentucky's Lady Colonel Classic in Richmond, Kentucky. OU finished in a tie for sixth place. OU shot 326-315-326--967 at the three-day 54-hole event. For the fifth consecutive tournament, Tooshkenig led the Golden Grizzlies individually. OU finished in the tie for sixth place behind Toledo, Murray State, Austin Peay, Western Carolina and Eastern Kentucky and tied with Butler. Oakland finished ahead of Xavier, Western Kentucky, Youngstown State, Texas-Pan American, Tennessee Tech, Ball State, IUPUI and Lipscomb. Tooshkenig shot a 75-77-75--227 for the second place individual finish. Apalit and Minnich rounded off OU's top three finishers. Apalit finished in a tie for 23rd after shooting 85-78-78--241 and Minnich finished in a tie for 38th (80-82-85--247).

The Golden Grizzlies women's golf team wrapped up their 2001-02 season April 22-23 at the Mid-Continent Conference Championship. OU's women's team finished second out of five teams. Cheryl Tooshkenig was named first team All-Mid-Continent Conference, while Mara Mazzoni earned second team honors. The Oral Roberts women?s team kept up its dominance, as it won its fifth straight league title. The ORU women earned a berth to the NCAA Regionals with their conference title. The Oral Roberts women led by 38 strokes heading into the final round of play and cruised to the win. The Golden Eagles? Heidi Brown repeated as the Mid-Con Player of the Year, finishing with a four-over par 220 (74-73-73). Brown held off Oakland?s Cheryl Tooshkenig, who finished two strokes back. All five Oral Roberts players finished among the top eight players. Included among those individuals were Mid-Con Newcomer of the Year Candice Satow (228) and Amanda Fisher (231), who joined Brown on the all-conference first-team, as did UMKC?s Mindy Merrifield (235). Second-team honorees on the women?s side included Oral Roberts? Brooke Fincher (236) and Lindsay Jones (240), Oakland?s Mara Mazzoni (239), UMKC?s Nicole Ross (241) and IUPUI?s Adrienne Mayhew (242).

Following runner-up Tooshkenig (76-74-72?222) was Mazzoni (77-78-84?239) who took a seventh place finish, while Apalit (79-85-82?246) was the third OU golfer in the top 12. Rounding things out for the Golden Grizzlies was Minnich (86-83-81?250) with 16^th place and Quinn (98-86-93?277) who finished 25th.

After such a successful season, the Oakland University women must now move forward and continue to accomplish their goals next year without the services of their top two players. Tooshkenig and Apalit will both graduate, and the Grizzlies will need players to step up and fill their shoes. Much of the weight will fall on Mara Mazzoni and Emily Minnich, who both showed great promise this year. Along with the development of other young players the Golden Grizzlies will look to improve even more in the 2002-2003 season.