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Payton Donnelly
Payton Donnelly had the best score of the week for any Wildcat in in the third round of the tournament

Women's Golf

Women's Golf Complete Season-Opener at Warrior Invite

'Cats finish 12th of 13, led by Maddy Martens

WASHINGTON, Mich. - The NMU women's golf team wrapped up competition at the Warrior Invitational today, finishing 12th of 13 teams and shooting a three-round total of 1013 (+149).

The field consisted of both regional and conference teams, running from Monday to Tuesday. Golfers played two rounds (36 holes) on Monday before playing the final round (18 holes) on Tuesday. Grand Valley State and Findlay (885, +21) shared a tie for first place, followed by Ferris State (912, +48), Davenport (925, +61), and Northwood (934, +70).

After shooting rounds of +51 and +60 on Monday, the Wildcats had its best round on Tuesday, shaving off 22 strokes from round two to shoot a third round +38, the eighth-best score in round three. For the tournament, the 'Cats as a team played the par threes at 3.72 (+43, 13th), par fours at 4.95 (+143, 12th), and par fives at 5.95 (+57, 13th). The Wildcats recorded the ninth-most birdies among the field with 16, but carded the fifth-most bogeys (91) and led the field in doubles+ with 72.

The Orchards GC played as a 6,020 yard par 72, averaging a score of 82.7 (~ +11) over 234 total carded rounds. There was a four-way tie for first, with June Hsiao and Rachael Krieger of Grand Valley State, Kamryn Shannon of Ferris State, and Emma Myers of Findlay claiming a share of tournament champion, all shooting a three-round total of +3.

The full list of results and stats can be found here. 

Leading the Wildcats was Maddy Martens, who after shooting an opening round +13 responded with back-to-back rounds of +7, giving her a three-round total of +27 (243) to finish T34 in a field of 78. Martens carded four birdies over three rounds, second on the team, including back-to-back birdies on hole eleven, the 478-yard par five. Martens started on hole eleven all three rounds, where in round three she opened with a birdie before carding seven-straight pars to shoot -1 in her opening eight holes, finishing with an even 36 on the back-nine in her final round. Martens was first on the team in par four scoring (+17, 4.57), first in par five scoring (+3, 5.25), third in par three scoring (+7, 3.58), recorded the most pars on the team with 26, and the fewest doubles+ with only seven. 

Second on the team was freshman Aavra Relich, shooting a three day total of +37 (253) after rounds of +8, +12, and +17, to finish T51 individually in her first career collegiate tournament. Relich opened the tournament strong, leading the team with her opening round 80 (+8), a round that included 13 pars. Relich matched Martens with four birdies on the tournament, including back-to-back circles on holes five and six in round two, and circling 13 and 15 in the final round.  Relich led the 'Cats in par three scoring (3.42, +5), second on the team in par four scoring (4.77, +23), third on the par fives (5.75, +9), and recorded the second-most pars on the team with 24. 

One stroke behind Relich was Abbie Pietila, who finished alone in 55th with her score of +38 (254). After rounds of +12 and +18, Pietila erased ten strokes off her second round score in round three, shooting a +8 to finish the tournament, including three birdies and six pars in that final round. Pietila led the Wildcats in birdies, firing home six over the tournament, including an opening round birdie on the 346-yard par four fourth, the sixth-hardest hole on the tournament, a hole that saw the third-most bogeys and doubles+ among the field. 

Payton Donnelly finished fourth on the team and T66 as an individual with her three-round total of +47 (263), and similar to Pietila, Donnelly had an exceptional end to her tournament; after shooting rounds of +18 and +23, both fourth on the team in scoring for those respective rounds, Donnelly led the Wildcats in round three, shaving off 17 strokes and shooting a +6. In round three, Donnelly paced the Wildcats in birdies with a pair, and matched the team lead in pars or better with eleven, while finishing the tournament with 21 pars, third-best on the team. Donnelly did a good job of keeping the big numbers off the scorecard in the third round, recording one double+ after recording six in each of the first two rounds. 

Abby Luke (+80, 76th), Olivia Brill (+94, 77th), and Gabriella Moreau (+99, 78th) rounded out the field. 

Up Next
A quick turnaround for NMU, the 'Cats next find themselves three hours North-West, traveling to Big Rapids to compete in the Bulldog Fall Classic this Saturday and Sunday from the Katke Golf Course. 



 
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Players Mentioned

Olivia Brill

Olivia Brill

5' 7"
Senior
Payton Donnelly

Payton Donnelly

5' 10"
Junior
Abby Luke

Abby Luke

Sophomore
Maddy Martens

Maddy Martens

Sophomore
Gabriella Moreau

Gabriella Moreau

5' 6"
Senior
Abbie Pietila

Abbie Pietila

Sophomore
Aavra Relich

Aavra Relich

Freshman

Players Mentioned

Olivia Brill

Olivia Brill

5' 7"
Senior
Payton Donnelly

Payton Donnelly

5' 10"
Junior
Abby Luke

Abby Luke

Sophomore
Maddy Martens

Maddy Martens

Sophomore
Gabriella Moreau

Gabriella Moreau

5' 6"
Senior
Abbie Pietila

Abbie Pietila

Sophomore
Aavra Relich

Aavra Relich

Freshman