Women's Golf falls in Ryder Cup match with Otterbein during Spring Break trip

By Tim Glon

PHOENIX, Ariz. — The Ohio Northern women's golf team went west for its annual Spring Break trip and fell in a Ryder Cup-style match to Otterbein 8-3 Monday-Tuesday at Moon Valley Country Club.

Junior Jennifer Hipskind scored 1.5 points in the alternate and single matches to lead the Polar Bears, while junior Hannah Whisler, junior Ariana Tomasula and freshman Suzanne Short picked up .5 points each.

Five of the 7 matches went to the 16th hole, with Whisler's going down to the final hole.

The Ryder Cup format consisted of best ball, alternate shot and single matches with each match being worth a point.

This format is new to Division III golf in 2016 which has been seen played in other divisions over the years.

"The teams really got a taste of what they need to do in the spring if they want to be a contender for the OAC's," ONU head coach Chad Bucci said. "Quite simply put, course management and putting is our key. I feel that both teams are the strongest we have been in the past several years and the maturity of the upperclassmen in the program and the freshman class has made this team very competitive and that is indicative in the overall stroke average for the programs."

Both programs from the respective schools had an inside look from one of the leading golf club manufactures in the world, PING golf. Also, a few ONU engineering students was given a personal tour from CEO John Solheim. The engineers were able to ask Solheim and the engineers questions during the tour.

The Polar Bears will be back in action on April 2-3 when they host the OAC Spring Invitational at Colonial Golfers Club.