Carmel, Ind.- The University of Findlay women's golf team, ranked third in the country, captured their third consecutive NCAA Division II East Regional championship, winning in a playoff over the eighth-ranked Indianapolis Greyhounds. The Oilers finished the tournament, which was being held at the Prairie View Golf Club in Carmel, Ind., with a 54-hole score of 905 (299, 301, 305), 41-over par.
Leading by three to start the day, the Oilers spent most of Wednesday in that position. However, that lead dissipated quickly in the final 20 minutes of the event, leaving the Oilers and host Indianapolis, which have become well-aquainted over the past few years, tied for first.
Both teams headed for the 18th tee where they would participate in a playoff to decide the tournament champion. All five players in the lineup would go out with the lowest score being dropped.
Playing in fivesomes, UIndy had two players in the first wave and Findlay sent out three, sophomore
Hayley Dye, freshman
Ashleigh Duflo, and senior Gabby Woods. Duflo recorded a par, Dye recorded a bogey, and Woods took an eight, which was later dropped, to take a one shot lead over the Greyhounds.
The second wave included duo
Mary Kelly Mulcahy and
Erin Mulcahy. The pair came up clutch, both making par to keep the Oilers one shot ahead. With everything on the line, the Greyhounds needed a short putt to force another playoff hole but they weren't able to connect, sealing the win for Findlay.
This marks the women's golf teams third consecutive NCAA DIvision II East Regional title and their fourth in five years.
M.K. Mulcahy, the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) Player of the Year, finished the event in second at eight-over par with rounds of 75 (+3), 72 (E), and 77 (+5). She played her first thirteen holes at one-over par, positioning herself as a contender and leading the tournament for the majority of the day. However, she closed her day at five-over par thanks to a bogey and a triple on her final two holes. Nevertheless, she has now secured back-to-back runner-up finishes (2023, 2024) at this event during her career to accompany her win in 2022.
Woods, the defending East Regional medalist, was also key to the Oilers' success as she posted a 72 (E) in her final round, the lowest in the field today. She finished tied for third at nine-over par after rounds of 74 (+2), 79 (+7), and 72 (E). Also tying for third was junior
Erin Mulcahy who held the overnight lead. Her rounds of 74 (+2), 71 (-1), and 80 (+8) resulted in her best career finish at the event.
The Oilers have officially punched their ticket to the NCAA Division II National Championship for the eighth time in program history. The event will be hosted in Winter Garden, Fla. on May 21-25.
