On Friday, April

22, when the conditions were at their worst, the Ashland University

women’s golf team was at its best.

On Saturday, April 23, when the conditions were

at their best, so was the women’s golf team from Grand Valley

State.

Add it all up and the Lakers, the defending

GLIAC women’s golf champion, held off the Eagles Saturday to win

the 2011 conference title at the Country Club of Ashland.

On Friday, in wind, rain and bitter cold, the

Eagles led from start to finish.

Saturday, under sunny skies and temperatures

that climbed past 70 degrees, the Lakers began their surge to the

front.

In the early going, the Eagles saw their lead

dip to nine strokes. A few holes later, it was five strokes.

Finally, GVSU pulled into a tie and then pulled away over the final

three holes.

Entering Saturday and the final round of play,

the Eagles had a 14-stroke lead over second place Grand Valley

State. AU was attempting to crack GVSU’s grip on the conference

trophy.

The Lakers entered this tourney with six

conference titles to their credit, while Ferris State has four

league titles. No other school has ever won the GLIAC title in

women’s golf.

The championship hardware will stay with GVSU

for another year. The Lakers shot 317 Saturday and finished at 966

(+102). Ashland, which shot 334 Saturday, had a team score of 969

(+105). Ferris State also shot 334 Saturday and finished third

(1004/+140). Findlay (1016/+152) was fourth. The field included

eight teams.

Ashland is ranked first in the region and the

Lakers are second. The Eagles have been rock solid all spring,

staying near the top of every tournament field.

This GLIAC title was being played on Ashland’s

home course, just the second time in school history the conference

event has come to Ashland.

Ashland junior Erin Misheff shot 230 (+14) to

earn medalist honors. In 2009, Misheff was the GLIAC runner-up.

Senior Annie Miles finished second Saturday. Miles shot 235 (+19).

She is the 2011 GLIAC golfer of the year.

The next three golfers in the individual race

were from Grand Valley State. Sarah Hoffman was third (239/+23),

Veronica Ryan (242/+26) was fourth and Ashley Beard (243/+27) was

fifth.

AU sophomore Holly James finished in a tie for

sixth. She shot 246 (+30). James, Miles and Misheff were all named

first team All-GLIAC.

This is the third consecutive year Misheff has

been a first team all-conference pick and it is the second straight

year Leonard has secured first team laurels.

AU seniors Elisa Leonard and Melanie Fortner

were named honorable mention All-GLIAC. AU freshman Nicole

Trivisonno, playing as an individual at the GLIAC tourney, placed

eighth. She shot 247/+31.

Jacqueline DeBoer of Ferris State was the GLIAC

freshman of the year. She finished in a tie for sixth with James.

GVSU’s Rebecca Mailloux was the 2011 GLIAC coach of the year.