WAVERLY, IOWA—Otterbein finished fifth at the NCAA Division III Women’s Golf Championships, which concluded today at the Centennial Oaks Golf Course in Waverly, Iowa.

Catherine Brunoehler putting earlier this season.

The Cardinals, making their first appearance in the NCAA’s, shot a 1281 (317-320-315-329) for the four-round tournament, which was won by Methodist with a 1219 (307-309-299-304). This marked Methodist’s 11th-straight championship title.

Otterbein, sitting fourth after each of the first three rounds, missed a share of fourth place by 10 strokes. DePauw finished second with a 1258 and was followed Southwestern (1263) and Illinois Wesleyan (1271) in the field of 20 teams.

“It’s amazing being the first time at the national tournament,” said head coach Nathanael Petry about his team’s fifth-place finish. “It was a very good ending to an outstanding season.”

Catherine Brunoehler, a freshman from New Castle, Ind. (Chrysler), led the Cardinals, taking a share of eighth place with a 305 (78-75-74-78) to earn honorable mention All-America honors.

“She’s a hard worker and really deserves it,” Petry said about Brunoehler’s top-10 finish. “She’s an incredible player and to accomplish that as a freshman is outstanding and also very promising for Otterbein’s golf program.”

Rustie Anderson, a junior from New Philadelphia (Garaway), turned in Otterbein’s second-best finish with a 321 (78-80-79-84) to earn a share of 31st.

Cards Sit Fourth Going Into Final Round of NCAA's
Written May 15, 2008 by Brett Rybak

WESTERVILLE, OHIO—The Otterbein women’s golf team sits at fourth place after the third round of the NCAA Division III Women’s Golf Championships held Tuesday through Friday in Waverly, Iowa.

The Cards posted a second round score of 315 at Centennial Oaks Golf Club, seven strokes behind third place DePauw University

Catherine Brunoehler, a freshman from New Castle, Indiana (Chrysler High School), posted a 2-over par 74, good for sixth place heading into the final round. Rustie Anderson, a junior from New Philadelphia (Garaway), shot an 7-over par 79 to sit in a tie for 26th place.

Otterbein, paired with golfers from University of St. Thomas and Illinois Wesleyan, will tee off starting at noon tomorrow.

WESTERVILLE, OHIO—The Otterbein women’s golf team sits at fourth place after the second round of the NCAA Division III Women’s Golf Championships held Tuesday through Friday in Waverly, Iowa.

The Cards posted a second round score of 320 at Centennial Oaks Golf Club, two strokes behind third place DePauw University

Catherine Brunoehler, a freshman from New Castle, Indiana (Chrysler High School), posted a 3-over par 75, good for seventh place at the midway point. Rustie Anderson, a junior from New Philadelphia (Garaway), shot an 8-over par 80 to sit in a tie for 21st place.

Otterbein, paired with golfers from University of St. Thomas and host Wartburg College, will tee off starting at noon tomorrow.

Cards Sit Fourth After Day One of NCAA's
Written May 13, 2008 by Brett Rybak

WESTERVILLE, OHIO—The Otterbein women’s golf team sits in a tie for fourth place after the first round of the NCAA Division III Women’s Golf Championships held Tuesday through Friday in Waverly, Iowa.

The Cards posted a first round score of 317 at Centennial Oaks Golf Club, ten strokes behind leader Methodist University.

Catherine Brunoehler, a freshman from New Castle, Indiana (Chrysler High School), and Rustie Anderson, a junior from New Philadelphia (Garaway), each posted a 6-over par 78 to sit in a tie for 14th place. Emily White, a senior from Blacklick (Red Lake District), shot a 7-over par 79 which was good enough to be tied for 23rd place.

Otterbein, paired with golfers from Illinois Wesleyan and DePauw University, will tee off starting at 7:30 a.m. tomorrow.

Nathanael Petry Named OAC Coach of the Year
Written May 13, 2008 by Brett Rybak

WESTERVILLE, OHIO—Otterbein head coach Nathanael Petry was named “Ohio Athletic Conference Coach of the Year” in women’s golf as selected by his coaching peers in the OAC, the conference office released today.

Petry led the Cardinals to an OAC championship and an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championship this season. The Otterbein women’s golf team will be making its first-ever appearance in the national tournament, which is scheduled to begin May 13 in Waverly, Iowa.

Cards Win OAC Title and Bid to NCAA Tournament
Written April 27, 2008 by Ed Syguda

HARROD, OHIO—The Otterbein women’s golf team received an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championship—its first in school history—by winning the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Championship held Saturday and Sunday at the Colonial Golfers Club in Harrod.

“It’s very exciting,” said Otterbein head coach Nathaneal Petry. “I’m excited for the girls. They worked hard all summer, all fall season and spring. They’ve done everything I’ve asked for them to do.”

This marks just the second year that the OAC Tournament winner automatically qualifies for the NCAA Tournament. Last season, Otterbein was one of the conference favorites to earn the OAC’s first automatic bid, but finished a disappointing third in the conference tournament.

“I think that helped them focus for this year and want it a lot more,” Petry said.

The Cardinals, shooting a 689 (352-337), won the OAC Tournament by 18 strokes over defending champion and host Ohio Northern, who finished with a 707 (362-345), in the nine-team field this weekend. All five Cardinal golfers placed in the top nine.

Natalie King, a junior from Powell (Worthington Kilbourne High School), and Rustie Anderson, a junior from New Philadelphia (Garaway), earned all-tournament honors by placing in the top five. King, just two strokes off the lead, finished second with a 163 (83-80). Anderson finished with a share of fourth with a 173 (89-84).

Catherine Brunoehler, a freshman from New Castle, Ind. (Chrysler), took a share of sixth place with a 174 (90-84), and was followed by Emily White, a senior from Blacklick, who placed eighth with a 179 (90-89), and Kelly Butler, a sophomore from Centerburg, who finished in a tie for ninth with a 182 (93-89).

“I worked really hard over the summer,” said King about her team’s improvement in the OAC Tournament. “We all worked really hard over the summer to keep our games up.

“It’s really exciting (going to the NCAA’s),” King continued. “It was disappointing last year, but I think we have the right team to go play this year. We’re going to have a great showing.”

The all-conference teams were also released at the tournament. Brunoehler, King, Butler and Anderson were named to the first team, and White was named to the second team.

Cards Prep for OAC Championships
Written April 25, 2008 by Zach Manoogian

WESTERVILLE, OHIO—The Cardinals compete in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Championships this Saturday and Sunday at Colonial Golf Club in Harrod.   

The Cards are seeking to build on their momentum following a first-place finish at the Wilmington Invitational held Sunday, April 20th.  The win was highlighted by a new school record score of 308.  Catherine Brunoehler, a freshman from New Castle, Ind. (New Castle Chrysler High School), continued her strong play with a round of 73, setting a new Otterbein record for a single-round score by an individual.

“We are really prepared for a good conference tournament,” said head coach Nathanael Petry.  “The team has had a great year, but all the hard work was to get us ready for this weekend.”

A team victory this weekend would earn the Cards their fifth OAC team championship in the past six years.  Ohio Northern University is the host for the event.

Cards Win Third Straight Invitational
Written April 17, 2008 by Zach Manoogian

WESTERVILLE, OHIO—Otterbein earned a first-place finish Tuesday at the Wittenberg Invitational, held at Windy Knoll Golf Club in Springfield. 

The Cardinals bested second-place Malone College by 29 strokes, finishing with a team total of 329. 

Otterbein golfers combined for the top-three finishes at the invite.  Catherine Brunoehler, a freshman from New Castle, Ind. (New Castle Chrysler High School), earned medalist honors with a round of 79.  Natalie King, a junior from Powell (Worthington Kilbourne), finished second in the field with a score of 81, while Emily White, a senior from Blacklick, placed third with a round of 83. 

The victory was the second in four days and third in a row for the Cardinals.  On Saturday the team placed first at the Lady Polar Bear Invitational held at Colonial Golfers Club in Harrod. 

The Cardinals were forced to battle tough weather conditions to place first in the 16-team field. 

“The girls had to really focus and grind through due to the extremely hard conditions,” said head coach Nathanael Petry. “It is very nice to see how players react in adverse circumstances and I am very proud of how this team handled it.”

Otterbein finished with a team score of 350, placing them six strokes ahead of Franklin College (356). 

Brunoehler led the Cards with an 81, while Rustie Anderson, a junior from New Philadelphia (Gateway), turned in an 86.

OAC Names Brunoehler Golfer of the Week
Written April 16, 2008 by Ed Syguda

WESTERVILLE, OHIO—Catherine Brunoehler, a freshman from New Castle, Ind. (Chrysler High School), was selected Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) women’s golfer of the week, the OAC released Monday.

Brunoehler helped lead her team to a six-stroke victory in the Lady Polar Bear Invitational hosted by Ohio Northern last Saturday at Colonial Golfers Club in Harrod. The freshman shot an 81 in the tournament, which was shortened to one round because of the weather conditions.

Otterbein, ranked 8th in NCAA Division III, shot a 350 to edge Franklin, who finished at 356 in the 16-team field.

OAC Names Anderson Golfer of the Week
Written April 7, 2008 by Ed Syguda

WESTERVILLE, OHIO—Rusty Anderson, a junior from New Philadelphia (Garaway High School), was selected Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) women’s golfer of the week, the OAC released Monday.

Anderson, finishing in a tie with teammate Catherine Brunoehler, a freshman from New Castle, Ind. (Chrysler), for third place, shot a 166 (85-81) to help lead her team to a win at the Capital Purple & White held Friday and Saturday at Foxfire Golf Club in Lockbourne.

Otterbein, ranked 8th in NCAA Division III, shot a 662 (334-328) to edge DePauw by seven strokes in the 17-team field. DePauw finished at 669 (333-336).

Through 13 rounds of golf over the fall and spring seasons, Anderson is averaging 83.0 strokes per round. Brunoehler leads the team with an 82.3-stroke average.

WESTERVILLE, OHIO―The 6th-ranked Otterbein women’s golf team completed its Fall Schedule by winning all five tournaments competed in.  Not only have the lady Cardinals won every tournament, but the team has won in convincing fashion, winning by an average of 12 strokes.  OC also placed at least three golfers in the top-10 in each tournament played in this fall, including two tournaments in which all five starters finished in the top-7.

The team’s success over the fall season can be attributed to its focus on the course.

“The girls really adapted to the idea that to get to the next level, they had to focus on all the little things it takes to play their best golf,” said head coach Nathanael Petry.  

Junior Natalie King (Powell/Worthington Kilbourne) leads the team in stroke average at 80.3.  She won medalist honors once (Wilmington Invitational) and finished in the top-6 in four of the team’s five tournaments. 

Freshman Catherine Brunoehler (New Castle, Ind./New Castle Chrysler) has finished no lower than eighth place individually in any tournament, with her best finish coming Sept. 30 at the Wilmington Invitational when she finished tied for third.  The freshman also is third on the team in stroke average at 81.6.

Sophomore Kelly Butler (Centerburg) has added four top-5 finishes of her own and is second on the team with an 81.5 stroke average. 

The Cards and Petry will look to continue their winning ways when they start Spring play beginning in March. 

“I expect that the girls will continue to have the same attitude and determination they had in the Fall, and that is ‘every shot matters,’ Petry said.  “We want to be the best we can on every shot, every day and every tournament." 

The team will open up play at the Jekyll Island Invitational March 20 in Jekyll Island, Ga.

No.10 Otterbein Wins Cardinal Fall Invite
Written Oct. 8, 2007 by Don Middleton

WESTERVILLE, OHIO—The 10th-ranked Otterbein women's golf team continued it's winning ways as the team won it's fourth consecutive tournament Saturday.  The host Cardinals shot 325 at the Table Rock Golf Club (par 72, 5,839) in Centerburg, Ohio.

All five Cardinals finished in the Top-10 and were once again led by junior Natalie King (Powell/Worthington Kilbourne) who finished in second place after shooting a 77 (38-39).

Junior Rustie Anderson (New Philadelphia/Garaway) fired off a round of 37-41 (78) to finish 3rd. Freshman Catherine Brunoehler (New Castle, Ind.) and sophomore Kelly Butler (Centerburg) tied for 5th place after each shot rounds of 85. Junior Kim Kambarami (Canal Winchester/Dublin Coffman) shot an 87 (40-47) and tied for seventh place.

Ohio Valley's Anne-Claire Tans won medalist honors after shooting 75 (35-40).

The Cards return to action for their final fall tournament of the season, Oct. 13-14, at John Carroll.

10th-Ranked Cards Host Otterbein Fall Classic
Written Oct. 3, 2007 by Ed Syguda

WESTERVILLE, OHIO—Otterbein, a winner in all three tournaments it played this fall, hosts the Otterbein Fall Classic Saturday at Table Rock Golf Club in Centerburg.

Head coach Nathanael Petry, who took over the women’s program this past summer, summed up his team’s fall performance as “outstanding”.

The Cardinals, ranked 10th in NCAA Division III in the latest Golf World/NGCA Coaches’ poll, come into the week fresh off a 23-stroke win at the Wilmington Invitational held Sunday at Majestic Springs in Wilmington. The squad ranks seventh in the nation, statistically, according to official statistics provided by Golfstat.

Otterbein placed five golfers in the top eight, including medalist Natalie King, at Wilmington. King, a junior from Powell (Worthington Kilbourne High School) shot a 4-over-par 75.

The squad also won tournaments at Baldwin-Wallace Sept. 16 and DePauw Sept. 22-23.

“I introduced some new coaching ideas and the players really jumped on them and worked hard,” Petry said about his team’s success this fall. “We are working hard on our short game, the mental side, and course management.”

Cardinals Finish 1st at Wilmington Invite
Written Oct. 1, 2007 by Don Middleton

WESTERVILLE, OHIO ―The Otterbein women's golf team won it's third straight tournament Sunday.  The Cardinals shot 320 at the Majestic Springs Golf Club (par 71, 5,827) in Wilmington, Ohio.

Otterbein was led by junior Natalie King (Powell/Worthington Kilbourne) who won medalist honors after firing off a round of 37-38 for a tournament total 75.

Two other Cards finished in the Top-3 with junior Kim Kambarami (Canal Winchester/Dublin Coffman) finishing second after shooting an 80 (38-42).  Freshman Catherine Brunoehler (New Castle, Ind.) tied for third place after a round of 41-40 (81).

Junior Rustie Anderson (New Philadelphia/Garaway) tied for 8th place with a tournament total 84 (43-41). Tying for 19th place was sophomore Kelly Butler (Centerburg) after a round of 44-46 (90).

The Cardinals return to the course Oct. 6 when they host the Otterbein Fall Classic at the Table Rock Golf Club in Centerburg, Ohio.

Cardinals Win at Yellow Jacket Invite
Written Sept. 17, 2007 by Don Middleton

WESTERVILLE, OHIO ―The Otterbein women’s golf team finished first at the Yellow Jacket Invitational Sunday.  The Cardinals shot 321 at the Mallard Creek Golf Course (par 72, 5,808) in Columbia Station, Ohio. 

The Cardinals finished where they left off at the end of the 2007 spring regular season when they won the Wilmington Invitational at the Majestic Springs Golf Course. 

All five Cardinals finished in the top-10, led by junior Natalie King who finished in third place after rounds of 37-42 (79). 

Junior Rustie Anderson and sophomore Kelly Butler both shot tournament totals of 80 (40-40) and tied for fourth place. Freshman Catherine Brunoehler shot rounds of 44-38 (82) to finish in sixth place. Senior Emily White earned a seventh place finish after shooting a tournament total 83 (47-36). 

Ohio Northern’s Megan Brennan defeated Amanda Shannon of John Carroll in a playoff and earned medalist honors with a two-round total of 78 (38-40). 

The Cardinals return to action Sept. 22-23 when they travel to Greencastle, IN to play in the DePauw Small College Classic.

Nathanael Petry Named Head Coach
Written July 26, 2007 by Ed Syguda

WESTERVILLE, OHIO—Otterbein announced today the appointment of Nathanael Petry as head women’s golf coach.

Petry, who already coaches the Otterbein men’s golf team, replaces Sharon Sexton, who accepted an administrative position in the department of athletics at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Ore. Petry, 25, will continue to coach the men’s team.

In addition to the head coaching change, Eric Evans, who has served two seasons as a graduate assistant in men’s basketball at Otterbein, was appointed assistant men’s and women’s golf coach.

“Nathanael’s golf knowledge and experience, combined with adding a new assistant’s position will allow us to continue the tradition of outstanding men’s and women’s golf here at Otterbein College,” said director of athletics Dick Reynolds.

Petry, a 2004 graduate of Mount Vernon Nazarene University, took over the men’s program in 2006 after serving two seasons as an assistant. He is employed in turf management at the New Albany Country Club in New Albany, Ohio.

“I am very excited about the opportunity to be leading the women's program,” Petry said.  “Coach Sexton did a tremendous job, establishing one of the better NCAA Division III women's programs in the Midwest, so I will be stepping into a winning program from day one. 

“The women are focused on taking their games to the next level,” he continued. “I believe with my knowledge of the game, coupled with my dedication to providing each player with every opportunity I can to reach their goals, we will get better every day.”

Petry, a native of Uhrichsville, Ohio, earned four varsity letters in golf at Mount Vernon Nazarene where he received his bachelor’s degree in business management. He was a three-time all-conference performer in the American Mideast Conference (AMC), finishing second twice in the AMC tournament. Petry played in two National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics tournaments.

Four Named to the All-American Scholar Team
Written July 9, 2007 by Ed Syguda

WESTERVILLE, OHIO—Four members of the Otterbein women’s golf team were named to the 2006-07 All-American Scholar team in NCAA Division III, the National Golf Coaches Association (NGCA) released today.

Making the team were Cassi Smith, a senior from Ashland, majoring in psychology; Rustie Anderson, a sophomore from New Philadelphia (Garaway High School), majoring in accounting; Katie Johnson, a sophomore from Upper Sandusky, majoring in economics; and Natalie King, a sophomore from Powell (Worthington Kilbourne), majoring in education.

Anderson, Johnson and King were named to the All-American Scholar team as freshmen last season.

Johnson & Smith Earn Academic All-District Honors
Written May 25, 2007 by Ed Syguda

WESTERVILLE, OHIO—Otterbein golfers Katie Johnson and Cassi Smith were named to the 2007 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV Women’s At-Large second team as selected by the College Sports Information Director’s of America (CoSIDA).

Johnson, a sophomore from Upper Sandusky, is majoring in economics and has made the Otterbein Dean’s List all five quarters.

She averaged 84.6 strokes over 19 rounds this season, third best in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC), on her way to first team All-OAC honors. Johnson placed fourth at the OAC Tournament.

Smith, a senior from Ashland, is majoring in psychology and political science. She has been on the Otterbein Dean’s List 10 times.

Smith held the 10th-best stroke average in the OAC this season, 89.5, and has helped lead Otterbein to three OAC titles over her four-year career. She is a two-time All-OAC performer.

Academic All-District IV team members are selected through voting by CoSIDA, a 2,000-member organization consisting of sports public relations professionals for colleges and universities in the United States and Canada. District IV encompasses the states of Alabama, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee.

Six Cardinals Earn All-OAC Honors
Written May 1, 2007 by Ed Syguda

WESTERVILLE, OHIO—Six members of the Otterbein women’s golf team earned All-Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) honors this season.

Sophomores Rustie Anderson, from New Philadelphia (Garaway High School), and Katie Johnson, from Upper Sandusky, took home first team honors.

Anderson led the Cardinals with an 83.9-stroke average—second best in the OAC—over 19 rounds of golf, which included the fall season. She earned medallist honors in four of the 12 tournaments she played. Anderson finished with a share of sixth place at the OAC Championships.

Johnson followed closely behind, maintaining an 84.6-stroke average, third best in the OAC, over the fall and spring seasons. Johnson took medallist honors once, and made the all-tournament team with a fourth-place finish at the OAC Championships.

Natalie King, a sophomore from Powell (Worthington Kilbourne), Elizabeth DeRoy, a freshman from Powell (Olentangy), and Cassi Smith, a senior from Ashland, earned second team honors.

King averaged 87.6 per round (7th in the OAC), DeRoy checked in at 88.4 (8th in the OAC) while Smith averaged 89.5 (10th in the OAC). King finished with a share of sixth place, Smith a share of 17th, and DeRoy, a share of 20th, at the OAC Championships.

Cards Finish Third at OAC Championships
Written April 29, 2007 by Ed Syguda

WESTERVILLE, OHIO--The Otterbein women’s golf team finished third at the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Women’s Golf Championships held Saturday and Sunday at Table Rock Golf Course in Centerburg.

The Cardinals, four-time defending OAC champion, shot 691 (343-348) for the 36-hole tournament, which was won by Ohio Northern. The Polar Bears finished with a 675 (339-336) and was followed by John Carroll, with a 690 (350-340).

Three Cardinals finished in the top ten led by Katie Johnson, a sophomore from Upper Sandusky, who finished fourth with a 167 (84-83). Johnson earned all-tournament honors by finishing in the top five.

Rustie Anderson, a sophomore from New Philadelphia (Garaway High School), and Natalie King, a sophomore from Powell (Worthington Kilbourne), shared sixth place, each shooting a 173. Anderson, who hit a hole in one on the par-3 16th hole Sunday, shot rounds of 85 and 88. She used a 9-iron on the 121-yard 16th. King tallied rounds of 86 and 87.

Rounding out the Otterbein five were Cassi Smith, a senior from Ashland, who finished in a tie for 17th with a 180 (90-90), and Elizabeth DeRoy, a freshman from Powell (Olentangy), who finished in a tie for 20th with a 183 (88-95).

Notching their second team victory of the season, the Cardinals were led by Rustie Anderson, a sophomore from New Philadelphia (Garaway High School). Anderson took home medallist honors, tallying a two-round total of 151, which is a school record.  In addition, the sophomore’s first-round score of 75 was a personal best and a team individual low score. 

“Rustie was absolutely on top of her game this weekend.  To turn in two consistent low rounds like that is a true testament to her ability.  She is definitely peaking at the right time of the year,” said head coach Sharon Sexton.

In addition to Anderson’s record-breaking performance, according to Sexton, five golfers set personal records at the Wilmington event.

Despite the successful weekend, the Cardinals are looking ahead to the OAC Tournament Championships this Saturday and Sunday. “Even though we have had a successful season up to this point, anything can happen during any given tournament,” Sexton said. 

“Obviously, this OAC Tournament carries a little more significance than past events as it is the first year that the tournament champion receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.”

With their eyes on the prize, Sexton says the team needs to come prepared in order to earn their fifth-consecutive conference title. “There are a lot of teams that pose threats ... John Carroll and ONU have both been right on our heels all year,” Sexton said. “We just need to be consistent and play one shot at a time and one day at a time.” 

The Cardinals will host this weekend’s OAC Tournament at the Table Rock Golf Club in Centerburg.

Otterbein, four-time defending OAC champion, shoots for their fifth-straight conference title, beginning Saturday at Table Rock.

OAC Names Johnson Golfer of the Week
Written April 17, 2007 by Ed Syguda

WESTERVILLE, OHIO—Katie Johnson, a sophomore from Upper Sandusky, was selected Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) women’s golfer of the week, the OAC released today.

Johnson shot an 83 for a share of second place at the Wittenberg Spring Invitational held April 10 at the Windy Knoll Golf Club in Springfield.

The Cardinals finished second behind Findlay in the 13-team field. Findlay shot a 341 and was followed by Otterbein, 346, Ohio Northern, 359, and John Carroll, 362.

Johnson holds down the second-best average on the team, averaging 85.0 strokes an outing.

Cards Prep for Purple & White
Written March 29, 2007 by Liz Goodman

WESTERVILLE, OHIO—Returning to the Buckeye State after its spring debut last weekend, the women’s golf team will aim for a higher finish this weekend.

Traveling to the Jekyll Island tournament, an annual spring break outing, the women’s team finished 11th of 22 teams in the 54-hole tournament held last Friday through Sunday in Jekyll Island, Ga. According to head coach Sharon Sexton, who was ultimately pleased with the season opener, the lack of practice in realistic situations may have held the team back from a higher finish.

“It is always difficult to compete when we have not had the opportunity to practice on grass prior to this tournament, so finishing 11th out of 22 teams in a national-level field is a good start to this part of our season,” she said. “Overall, I was pleased with the performance of the team.”

Elizabeth DeRoy a freshman from, Powell (Olentangy), led Otterbein with a 239 (84-89-76) to tie for a share of 33rd place.

“I am excited to see the progress she has already made from the fall,” Sexton said of the freshman. But according to Sexton, the depth of the team is what will contribute to their ultimate success this season.

“Everybody's course management has already improved a great deal from this time last year.  It is evident that everyone has worked very hard in the off-season, tweaking individual aspects of their game and swing mechanics,” Sexton said. “We have a very deep team in that anyone could challenge on any given day for a spot in the top five.”

The Cardinals, ranked 13th in the NCAA Division III, will focus their efforts to the solid, regional tournament that awaits them this weekend at the Capital Purple & White Invitational, where they will meet nationally-ranked DePauw (5th) and Olivet (26th).

“I am looking forward to seeing how we match up against them in a local tournament on two courses that we have considerable experience on,” said Sexton.  “Repetition at the range will be key, as well as getting in a practice round in Ohio conditions”

Cards Wins Otterbein Fall Classic
Written Oct. 9, 2006 by Liz Goodman

CENTERBURG, OHIO—Otterbein, topping all scores by 32 strokes, won the Cardinal Fall Invitational held Sunday at Table Rock.

“The team definitely made a statement,” said eighth-year head coach Sharon Sexton.

With all eight Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) teams represented in the contest, and four Otterbein golfers placing in the top five, Sexton has much to look forward to when spring rolls around in 2007. 

In addition to the Cardinal A-team scoring a 333, the competing B-team also posted promising results. “Our four golfers, who played as individuals, shot a 379, which would have been good enough for fourth place,” Sexton said.

Bringing home medallist honors for the second time this fall, Rustie Anderson, a sophomore from New Philadelphia (Garaway High School), shot an 82 for the day.

“Rustie continues to be a steady performer on the team this fall as she has finished in the top five in four out of five tournaments,” Sexton said. 

Sophomore Natalie King, a sophomore from Powell (Worthington Kilbourne), finished second with an 83.

“She has been working extremely hard to drop strokes on the green this fall and did just that, posting a career low,” Sexton said of King’s effort.  

Katie Johnson, a sophomore from Upper Sandusky, and Kelly Butler, a freshman from Centerburg, each shot an 84 to share fourth place.

The Cardinals have one challenge left on the fall schedule. Venturing off to the Legends of Indiana Golf Course in Franklin Ind., the team will play in a 36-hole tournament this Saturday and Sunday.

Otterbein Wins Again--Anderson Takes Medallist Honors
Written Sept. 28, 2006 by Liz Goodman

Topping all seven of the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) women’s golf teams competing, the Cardinals seized their second fall season victory, winning the 19-team Ohio Northern Invitational last Sunday.

The women’s golf team finished with three individuals in the top 10. Rustie Anderson, a sophomore from New Philadelphia (Garaway), took home medallist honors with a 78.

“She will battle every time she is on the course,” said head coach Sharon Sexton of Anderson’s effort.  “She doesn’t care about the conditions she faces. She doesn’t make excuses. She just plays.”

Fellow teammates Katie Johnson, a sophomore from Upper Sandusky, and Kelly Butler, a freshman from Centerburg, finished in a six-way tie for ninth place, each shooting a 90.

Sexton felt the team finished well, attributing the high scores to the weather. “Conditions were difficult throughout the day as the wind was gusting 20 to 30 mph consistently,” she said.          

This weekend, the Cardinals will travel to Indiana for two tournaments, playing one round in the Manchester Invitational Saturday, and two rounds in the DePauw Invitational Sunday and Monday.     

“Manchester is always a good team within our region so I look forward to seeing how we compete on Manchester’s home course,” Sexton said.

As for the DePauw tournament, Sexton hopes that the high level of competition the team will face there will give them a glimpse of potential opponents during their spring season.

Otterbein Opens Fall Season with Win at B-W
Written Sept. 21, 2006 by Liz Goodman

BEREA, OHIO--The women’s golf team premiered last Sunday at the Mallard Creek Golf Club in Berea, as the Cardinals kicked off their fall season and swung their way to first place.

The golf fall season, composed of six tournaments, begins the opening half of this two-quarter sport, which culminates in the spring with the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Championship and the NCAA Division III Championship. With only one week of practice before competing in their first tournament, the golfers need to come to season with plenty of summer experience under their belt. “Most play in multiple amateur tournaments over the summer,” said seventh-year head coach Sharon Sexton.

“Even though the conference tournament takes place in the spring, fall golf counts toward our regional and national ranking in the same manner that spring golf does,” Sexton explained.

Topping Olivet College by four strokes and finishing 26 strokes or more ahead of any Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) team at the tournament, Sexton felt the first tournament could not have gone better. “I am extremely pleased with the strong performance at Baldwin-Wallace,” she said.

Leading the Cardinals and winning medallist honors was Katie Johnson, a sophomore from Upper Sandusky (Upper Sandusky), who finished with a 78 (36-42). Finishing second and third for the team were Rustie Anderson, a sophomore from New Philadelphia (Garaway), shooting an 80 (39-41) for the day, and Kelly Butler, a freshman from Centerburg (Centerburg), who fired an 87 (39-48) for 12th place.

“Defeating strong teams like Olivet and Allegheny should be a confidence boost heading into our next tournament,” Sexton said.

Five Named to the NGCA All-American Scholar Team
Written July 21, 2006 by Ed Syguda

Five members of the Otterbein women’s golf team were named to the 2006 National Golf Coaches Association (NGCA) All-American Scholar Team.

Making the team were All-Ohio Athletic Conference performers Rustie Anderson, a freshman from New Philadelphia (Garaway High School), majoring in mathematics; Colleen Groomes, a senior from Elyria, majoring in organizational communication; Katie Johnson, a freshman from Upper Sandusky, majoring in economics; and Natalie King, a freshman from Powell (Worthington Kilbourne), majoring in middle childhood education. Also making the team was Lauren Semon, a freshman from Shelby, majoring in English and psychology.

To qualify for the NGCA All-American Scholar team, the student-athlete must have had an overall grade-point average of 3.50 or higher (on a 4.00 scale) and participated in at least 66 percent of the college’s regularly-scheduled competitive rounds during the year nominated.

Groomes Named to CoSIDA Academic Team
Written May 26, 2006 by Ed Syguda

Colleen Groomes

Otterbein golfer Colleen Groomes was named to the 2006 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV Women’s At-Large first team as selected by the College Sports Information Director’s of America (CoSIDA).

For Groomes, a senior from Elyria (Elyria High School), this marked the third-straight year she has earned this award. She is eligible for Academic All-America consideration. Groomes is majoring in organizational communication and has made the Otterbein Dean’s List all 11 quarters.

A four-time All-Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) performer and 2005 OAC Tournament medallist, Groomes helped lead Otterbein to its fourth-straight OAC title this season. She carried a 84.5-stroke average over 21 rounds of golf.

Academic All-District IV team members are selected through voting by CoSIDA, a 2,000-member organization consisting of sports public relations professionals for colleges and universities in the United States and Canada. District IV encompasses the states of Alabama, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee.

OAC Names Groomes Clyde A. Lamb Winner
Written May 19, 2006 by Craig Coleman

WESTERVILLE, OHIO—Colleen Groomes, a senior from Elyria (Elyria High School), was honored as a 2005-06 Clyde A. Lamb Scholar-Athlete award winner by the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Monday at the Clarion Dublin Hotel in Columbus.

The Clyde A. Lamb Awards are named in honor of the man who organized the Department of Health and Physical Education at Ohio Northern in 1929. He served as coach, department chairman, and athletics director at ONU from 1929-64.

Criteria for the award include at least two year's participation in an OAC-sponsored sport, senior status, a minimum grade-point average of 3.00 and sportsmanlike conduct in a manner that has brought credit to the student-athlete and his/her institution.

Groomes, an organizational communications major, was a four-year letterwinner for the Otterbein women’s golf team. A four-time All-OAC performer in her career, Groomes earned medalist honors at the 2005 OAC Tournament, had 41 top-five finishes, and was named the OAC player of the week six times. She still holds the school record for low 36-hole score (159).

In addition to her on-field accomplishments, Groomes has made the Dean’s List 11 straight quarters, was a two-time Academic All-OAC member, two-time ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV member, and two-time NGCA All-American Scholar Athlete.

Groomes is a member of the Mortar Board, Alpha Lambda Delta, Torch & Key, and was co-President of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee in 2005.

Sexton Named OAC Coach of the Year
Written May 03, 2006 by Kyle Durban

For the second-straight season and the fourth time in five years, seventh-year head women’s golf coach Sharon Sexton was named Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) “coach of the year”, the OAC released Tuesday.

“It is truly an honor to receive this recognition since it is voted on by the conference coaches,” Sexton said.  “ I am extremely proud of this year's team in the way that they consistently stepped up throughout the season, especially considering the fact that we were so young.”

En-route to securing its fourth-consecutive conference title, the Otterbein golf team set a school and conference record by shooting a 322 in the first round of this year’s OAC Tournament.  Kristen Becker, a freshman from Columbus (Upper Arlington), became the second Cardinal golfer in two years to take home medallist honors. 

Cards Capture 4th Straight OAC Title
Written April 23, 2006 by Kyle Durban

The Otterbein women’s golf team won its fourth-consecutive conference title Sunday at the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Championships hosted by Wilmington, setting a bevy of school and conference records along the way.

Otterbein celebrates 4 in a row

Otterbein shot a tournament and school record 656 (322-334), finishing 53 strokes ahead of second-place Wilmington.

All five Cardinal golfers placed in the top ten and Kristen Becker, a freshman from Columbus (Upper Arlington High School), took home medallist honors after defeating teammate Katie Johnson, a freshman from Upper Sandusky, on the second hole of the playoff.

“There’s no way to coach that situation,” said seventh-year head coach Sharon Sexton. “They both finished first and I just told them that this would decide who gets to take home the hardware.”

Becker, despite the hardware, said they were both champions.

“The main thing was that I was playing against a teammate and a friend,” Becker said. “Coach (Sexton) just told us to have fun and play well. As far as I’m concerned, we’re co-champions.”

Becker (79-81) and Johnson (76-84) each shot a 160 for the 36-hole tournament. Johnson finished the first round Saturday with a school record 76, which tied the OAC Tournament record.

Colleen Groomes, a senior from Elyria, placed fourth with a 163 (80-83). Freshmen Natalie King, from Powell (Worthington Kilbourne), finished eighth with a 174 (87-87),  and Rustie Anderson, from New Philadelphia (Garaway), tied for tenth with a 177 (91-86).

The Cardinals’ opening-round 322 also set a school and OAC tournament record for lowest team score in a single round.

“There’s not much you can really say,” Sexton said.  “To do what we’ve done with one senior and four freshman is just amazing. It’s a testament to the fact that any of our players could have stepped in and helped us get the job done.”

With her fourth-place finish, Groomes became just the third golfer to capture All-OAC honors four consecutive years. Groomes was medallist in 2005, after finishing eighth as a sophomore and third as a freshman.

“It’s awesome,” Groomes said of the team’s finish. “There’s something special about being on this team. It’s been an unbelievable four years.”

Sexton said it is hard to find words that describe the impact Groomes has had on the team, adding that if this was Groomes’ final match as a Cardinal, she will be missed.

“Players like her don’t come around very often,” Sexton said. “She was our leader, especially with our freshmen players. Everyone in the conference recognizes that.”

The Cardinals still have an outside shot of being selected for the NCAA Division III Championships that are scheduled for May 9-12 at the El Campeon Golf Course in Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla.

Cards Shoot for 4th Straight OAC Title
Written April 20, 2006 by Kyle Durban

After capturing a tournament championship at the Muskingum Spring Invitational on Wednesday, the Otterbein women’s golf team looks to capture its fourth-straight Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) championship this Saturday and Sunday at the Majestic Hills Golf Course in Wilmington.

In 2005, the Cardinals won the conference tournament by 22 strokes over runner-up Baldwin-Wallace.  Colleen Groomes, a senior from Elyria, took medallist honors at last year’s tournament, shooting a 160 (83-77).

“We just need to remain consistent,” said head women’s golf coach Sharon Sexton.  “We’re playing a different course this weekend, so anything can happen.  It’s a tough course, but definitely a course that people can shoot low scores on.

“Obviously, we want to win the conference,” Sexton said.  “It would be good for Colleen to go out with a fourth championship.”

Groomes, who also claimed tournament honors at Muskingum Wednesday, has the opportunity to become a four-time all-conference selection with a top-ten finish this weekend.

“Colleen’s leadership has been great,” Sexton said.  “From there, we have freshmen that we knew coming in would be strong.”

Sexton said that choosing five golfers to compete at the tournament championship would be difficult, based on the depth of the squad.

“It seems like anyone we put in the varsity lineup will get the job done,” Sexton said.  “It’s a pretty good problem to have, but, I wish we could play everyone.”

As of Thursday, the five chosen to represent Otterbein at the OAC tournament were:

1. Colleen Groomes, senior, Elyria

2. Rustie Anderson, freshman, New Philadelphia (Garaway High School)

3. Kristen Becker, freshman, Columbus (Upper Arlington High School)

4. Katie Johnson, freshman, Upper Sandusky

5. Natalie King, freshman, Powell (Worthington Kilbourne High School)

Anderson Named Player of Week in OAC
Written April 17, 2006 by Ed Syguda

Rustie Anderson, a freshman from New Philadelphia (Garaway High School), was named Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) women’s golfer of the week for the third time this spring, the OAC released today.

Anderson participated in three tournaments last week, winning the Lady Cardinal Spring Invitational held April 9-10 at Little Turtle Country Club in Westerville and at New Albany Links. She shot a 166 (84-82) to help lead her team to a first-place finish in the 10-team field.

Anderson also finished third, with an 86, at the Wittenberg Spring Invitational held last Thursday at Windy Knoll Golf Club in Springfield, and tied for 17th, with a 170 (88-82), at the Ashland Spring Invitational held last Friday and Saturday at the Country Club of Ashland.

Through nine rounds of golf this spring, Anderson leads the team with an 84.8-stroke average.

Otterbein Wins 3rd Straight
Written April 12, 2006 by Craig Coleman

(NEW ALBANY, Ohio)--The Otterbein women’s golf team finished first out of 10 teams, winning the Lady Cardinal Spring Invitational held Sunday and Monday at the Little Turtle and New Albany Links Country Clubs.

“There is no doubt that the 2005-2006 women’s golf team has more depth than any previous Otterbein team,” said seventh-year head coach Sharon Sexton. “This is evidenced by the fact that the lineup is constantly changing, as well as the scores that the “B” team is consistently turning in during tournaments.”

Otterbein finished with a 36-round score of 695, while Allegheny finished in second (716). Otterbein’s “B” team, which technically competed as individuals, would have placed third, overall, ahead of conference-rival Ohio Northern (728) had they competed as a team.

“We are able to go into each tournament knowing that just about anyone on our team can put up the necessary scores in order for us to be successful,” Sexton said.

Freshman Rustie Anderson, from New Philadelphia (Garaway High School), earned medalist honors with a two-day score of 166 (84-82). Emily White, a sophomore from Red Lake Ontario, Canada, placed second at 168 (88-80), while senior Colleen Groomes, from Elyria, finished sixth at 173 (90-83).

Last Saturday, Otterbein competed in the Ohio Cup at Bridgeview Golf Course and finished first out of eight teams. It marked Otterbein’s third tournament win this spring season.

“Winning the Ohio Cup event on Saturday was also a testament to the abilities of this team as we received the maximum allotted points,” Sexton said.

Rustie Anderson, a freshman from New Philadelphia (Garaway High School), was named Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) women’s golfer of the week for the second straight week, the OAC released today.

Anderson, playing on Otterbein’s “B” team, finished second at the Capital Purple & White Invitational held last Friday and Saturday at Foxfire Golf Club in Lockbourne. She shot a 167 (87-80), finishing two strokes behind medalist Megan Mattia, from St. Mary’s College (IN), who shot a 165 (88-77).

The Otterbein “A” team finished 2nd in the 11-team field. The Cardinals shot a 719 (374-345) and finished well ahead of the other six OAC schools that competed. St. Mary’s won the invitational with a 694 (360-334).

Anderson Named OAC Golfer of the Week
(Written by Ed Syguda 03/27/06)

Rustie Anderson, a freshman from New Philadelphia (Garaway High School), was named Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) women’s co-golfer of the week, the OAC released today.

Anderson, playing on Otterbein’s “B” team, finished in a tie with Ohio Northern’s Meagan Brennan for first place at the Mount Union Spring Invitational held Sunday at Tannenhauf Golf Club in Alliance. Both shot an 84 in the tournament, which was reduced to one round because of bad weather conditions on Saturday.

Fall Bodes Well for Spring Season
(Written by Kyle Durban 10/27/05)

The fall golf season is used as a measuring stick for teams to find out where they stand. For the Otterbein women’s golf team, the fall was a sneak peek of what’s to come in the spring. 

“It was a very good preview of what’s to come,” said Colleen Groomes, a senior from Elyria.  “It’s exciting to know how good we’re going to be in the spring.”

The Cardinals competed in six fall tournaments, capturing two championships while finishing no worse than fourth during competition—even more promising were the performances given by freshmen.

“We have seven freshmen,” Groomes said, “and four are playing in our top five.”

Katie Johnson, a freshman from Upper Sandusky, took medalist honors at the Wilmington Invitational on Sept. 18, shooting a 78 (39-39).  Groomes finished second, carding an 80 (38-42) as the Cardinals won their fall opener by 24 strokes (330) over Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) rival Wilmington (354). 

The Cardinals then traveled to Lima for the Ohio Northern Invitational on Sept. 25.  Kristen Becker, a freshman from Columbus (Upper Arlington High School), led the Cardinals with a third-place finish, shooting an 82 (41-41). Otterbein finished in third-place with a score of 352.  Ohio Northern won the event with a 344 and Tiffin took runner-up honors with a 350. 

Otterbein followed up with another third-place finish—this time at the DePauw Small College Classic on Oct. 2-3 in Clayton, Ind.  Groomes placed 17th  with a 172 (90-82).

The Cardinals claimed their second tournament championship on Oct. 9, winning the six-team John Carroll Invitational by 24 strokes with a 344.  Baldwin-Wallace finished second with a 368. Groomes finished in first place after carding an 83 (44-39), while Kim Kambarami, a freshman from Dublin (Coffman High School), finished third with an 86 (43-43).  The win was the second time Otterbein defeated OAC teams en route to claiming a fall tournament title.

“It’s nice to see the other OAC schools and know where we stand against them,” Groomes said. 

Following a fourth-place finish at the Tiffin Invitational on Oct. 10, the Cardinals concluded their fall schedule on Oct. 16-17 with a third-place showing at the Franklin College Invitational in Franklin, Ind. Otterbein finished 17 strokes behind champion DePauw.  Groomes finished third with a 159 (79-80) while Kambarami placed 8th with a 162 (79-83).

Groomes Named Academic All-District
(Written by Justin Hamilton 05/26/05)

Junior Colleen Groomes was named to the 2005 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV At-Large second-team as selected by the College Sports Information Director’s of America (CoSIDA).

Groomes, from Elyria (Elyria High School), carries a 3.876-grade-point average in organizational communications and led the team and tied for the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) lead with an 84.9-stroke average.

She earned medalist honors at the OAC Championships, shooting a 160 (83-77) in the two-round event, and helped the Cardinals claim their third consecutive conference title.  Groomes was named the OAC “golfer of the week” four times and captured medalist honors at five different tournaments during the spring season.

Academic All-District IV team members are selected through voting by CoSIDA, a 2,000-member organization consisting of sports public relations professionals for colleges and universities in the United States and Canada. District IV encompasses the states of Alabama, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee.

To be eligible, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.20 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standing at his/her current institution and be nominated by his/her sports information director.

Cards Wins 3rd Straight OAC Championship
(Written by Ed Syguda 04/29/05)

The Otterbein women’s golf team claimed its third straight Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) championship today, winning the 36-hole tournament by 22 strokes.

The Cardinals, under sixth-year head coach Sharon Sexton, shot a 686 (358-328), including a school-record low round of 328 on the final day of the tournament, which was played at the Big Met Golf Course in Fairfield Park. Host school Baldwin-Wallace finished second with a 708 (358-350).

“Everyone came to play today,” Sexton said. “They just absolutely stepped up. The determination of the team was that anything less than first place would not be acceptable.”

Colleen Groomes, a junior from Elyria, and Chelsea Thresher, a senior from Powell (Olentangy High School), each carded a career-best 77 in the final round. Groomes earned medalist honors with a 160 (83-77), and Thresher finished right behind in second place with a 169 (92-77).

Cassi Smith, a sophomore from Ashland, finished tenth with a 179 (94-85), including a personal-best 85 on the final day. The top ten finishers earned All-OAC honors.

Groomes Named OAC Player of the Week
(Written by Ed Syguda 04/25/05)

Colleen Groomes, for the fourth time this spring, earned Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) player-of-the-week honors in women’s golf, the conference office released today.

Groomes, a junior from Elyria (Elyria High School), finished first with an 88 at the Muskingum College Invitational held last Wednesday at the Cambridge Country Club in Cambridge. Otterbein won the tournament with a 373, besting Ohio Northern, who finished second, by 15 strokes.

Groomes, who leads her teammates with an 85.7-stroke average, has earned medalist honors four times this spring.

Groomes Named OAC Player of the Week
(Written by Ed Syguda 04/18/05)

Colleen Groomes, for the third time this spring, earned Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) player-of-the-week honors in women’s golf, the conference office released today.

Groomes, a junior from Elyria (Elyria High School), finished fourth at the Otterbein Lady Cardinal Invitational and finished first at the Mount Union Spring Invitational. She shot 174 (94-80) at the Lady Cardinal, which was held Saturday and Sunday at New Albany Links. She turned in a 162 (79-83) at the Mount Union Spring Invitational, which was held April 10-11 at Tannenhauf Golf Course in Alliance.

Otterbein won both tournaments last week, shooting 713 (367-346) in the Lady Cardinal and 693 (332-361) at Mount Union.

Cards Carry Momentum Into the OC Invite
(Written by Ed Syguda 04/15/05)

Otterbein, fresh off two tournament wins at Ohio Northern and Mount Union, hosts its own tournament Saturday and Sunday at New Albany Links.

The field includes teams from Tiffin, Muskingum, Capital, Baldwin-Wallace, Wilmington, Wittenberg, Mount Union, Ohio Northern and Otterbein.

Otterbein, led by Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Co-Players of the Week Chelsea Thresher and Colleen Groomes, heads into the Lady Cardinal Invitational with some momentum, winning the 36-hole Mount Union Invitational held last Sunday and Monday at the Tannenhauf Golf Course in Alliance. The Cardinals, shooting a 693 (332-361), edged Baldwin-Wallace by one stroke. Ohio Northern took third with a 707 (350-357), and Wilmington placed fourth with a 708 (346-362).

The previous week, Otterbein also won the 18-hole Ohio Northern Lady Polar Bear Invitational by just one stroke, shooting a 376 to defeat Albion (377). Ohio Northern (378) and Baldwin-Wallace (379) finished close behind in third and fourth place, respectively.

“Between us, Baldwin-Wallace, Ohio Northern and Wilmington,” said sixth-year head coach Sharon Sexton, “anything can happen on any given day.”

Groomes, a junior from Elyria (Elyria High School), leads her teammates with an 85.1-stroke average. She shot a personal-best 79 in the first round of the Mount Union Invitational.

“Colleen has worked extremely hard both on the course and on her mental game since last season and it is truly paying off this spring,” Sexton said. “It says a lot, from an individual standpoint, to earn medalist honors the last three tournaments considering the high level of competition.  She is proving herself to be one of the top golfers not only in the region but in Division III this spring.”

Thresher, a senior from Powell (Olentangy High School), holds down the second-best stroke average on the team, averaging 87.6 over seven rounds this spring.

“Chelsea has carded some great rounds this spring,” Sexton said.  “I expect her consistency will improve as we head into the last couple of weeks of the season.  Not having a fall season (due to volleyball) is a bit of a handicap for Chelsea in that she does not have the opportunity to fine-tune her game like the rest of the team.  The fact that Chelsea shot an 86 on a tough course in extremely difficult weather conditions at Ohio Northern shows just what a naturally talented golfer she is.”

Thresher, Groomes Share OAC Honors
(Written by Ed Syguda 04/11/05)

Chelsea Thresher and Colleen Groomes earned Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) co-player-of-the-week honors in women’s golf, the conference office released today.

Thresher, a senior from Powell (Olentangy High School), and Groomes, a junior from Elyria (Elyria High School), finished in a first-place tie, each shooting 86’s at the Ohio Northern Lady Polar Bear Invitational held last Thursday at the Colonial Golfers Club in Harrod. Groomes was awarded medalist honors based upon a scorecard playoff.

Thresher and Groomes hold the top two scoring averages on the team. Groomes is averaging 86.3 strokes per round while Thresher checks in at 88.8.

Otterbein won this 11-team invitational by one stroke, shooting a 376. The Cardinals have won the Lady Polar Bear Invitational three straight years.

Groomes Named OAC Player of the Week
(Written by Ed Syguda 04/04/05)

Colleen Groomes earned Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) player-of-the-week honors in women’s golf, the conference office released today.

Groomes, a junior from Elyria (Elyria High School), finished in a first-place tie with Stefanie Simmerman, from St. Mary’s (IN), each shooting an 83. Simmerman won the individual title at the 2003 NCAA Division III Women’s Golf Championship.

Groomes was named the medalist of the tournament, which was shortened to just one round because of snow on Saturday. Groomes also won this tournament as a sophomore in 2004.

Cards Open Spring at Jekyll Island
(Written by Justin Hamilton 03/15/05)

The Otterbein women’s golf returns four of its top five scorers from a squad that captured its second-straight Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Championship last spring.

The Cardinals participated in five matches last fall, all of which were individually scored.  Otterbein was without six players during the fall matches, including three from last year’s championship team.

“The fall season did not give us a very good representation as we were competing without six members of the current team,” said sixth-year head coach Sharon Sexton.  “This was a great opportunity for other members of the team to step up and compete. 

“Allison Hayes shot her collegiate personal best as did Cassi Smith.  Both individuals could be competing for a spot on the A-team this spring.”

Leading the list of returnees will be seniors Jennifer Coco, Chelsea Thresher and Amy Troiano, along with junior Colleen Groomes.  Groomes finished eighth at last year’s OAC Championship while Thresher was ninth. 

“Our ultimate goal is to win our third-straight conference championship,” Sexton said.  “Kiki Koehl is going to be a very tough player to replace but there are players who have the ability to step up and score for us. 

“I truly believe we are talented enough to ‘three-peat’ but it is going to be a battle all spring as the level of competition just keeps getting better and better each year.”

The Cardinals will open their season at the Jekyll Island One Day Classic March 18.  Otterbein will host its annual Lady Cardinal Invitational at the New Albany Links April 16-17.

Three Named to All-American Scholar Team
(Written by Ed Syguda 07/27/04)

Three Otterbein women’s golfers were selected to the Division III National Golf Coaches Association (NGCA) All-American Scholar Team.

Sixty-one student-athletes from NCAA Division III made the team.

Selected from Otterbein were juniors Amy Troiano, from Upper Sandusky, and Chelsea Thresher, from Powell (Olentangy High School); and sophomore Colleen Groomes, from Elyria.

Troiano, an accounting major, has made the Otterbein Dean’s List seven times. Thresher, majoring in middle childhood education, has been on the Dean’s List four times. Groomes, majoring in organizational communication and sport management, has made the Dean’s List in each of her six quarters at Otterbein.

Groomes Earns Academic All-District Honors
(Written by Ed Syguda 07/22/04)

Sophomore golfer Colleen Groomes was named to the Academic All-District IV Women’s At-Large first team as selected by the College Sports Information Director’s of America (CoSIDA).

Students-athletes selected to the first team were eligible for Academic All-America consideration.

Groomes, from Elyria, is majoring in organizational communications and sport management.

A two-time All-Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) performer, Groomes, the team’s No. 1 golfer, helped lead Otterbein to its second-straight OAC title this past spring. She finished with an 88.6-stroke average.

Groomes was also named to the Academic All-OAC At-Large first team. She has made the Otterbein Dean’s List all six quarters.

Academic All-District IV team members are selected through voting by CoSIDA, a 2,000-member organization consisting of sports public relations professionals for colleges and universities in the United States and Canada. District IV encompasses the states of Alabama, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee.

Cards Win Second Straight OAC Title
(Written by Justin Hamilton 04/30/04)

Otterbein won its second straight Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) title in women’s golf, beating out Wilmington by 16 strokes Friday at Little Turtle Country Club in Westerville.

Kiki Koehl, a graduate student from Pickerington, finished second overall, five strokes behind Jennifer Huffman of Capital who took home medalist honors with a two-day total of 176 (90-86).          

Otterbein shot a two-round 761 (372-389).  Wilmington finished second with a 777 (389-388), and was followed by Baldwin-Wallace (783), Mount Union (822), Ohio Northern (829), Capital (829), Muskingum (886), and John Carroll (DNF). 

Otterbein individual finishes were:

    2. Kiki Koehl, graduate student, Pickerington, 181 (90-91)
    8. Colleen Groomes, sophomore, Elyria, 192 (95-97)
  T9. Chelsea Thresher, junior, Powell (Olentangy), 194 (95-99)
  13. Jennifer Coco, junior, Westerville (North), 200 (92-108)
T22. Amy Troiano, junior, Upper Sandusky, 212 (110-102)

Koehl, Groomes, and Thresher each earned All-OAC honors by finishing in the top ten.

Cards Prep for OAC Championship
(Written by Ed Syguda 04/28/04)

The first round of the 36-hole Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Women’s Golf Championship gets underway Thursday at Little Turtle Country Club in Westerville.

Baldwin-Wallace, Wilmington and Otterbein begin at 10 a.m. Thursday. Ohio Northern, Capital and Mount Union follow at 10:37 a.m. The last two teams of Muskingum and Heidelberg begin at 11:15 a.m.

Otterbein, defending OAC champion, heads into the tournament on a roll, compiling two wins and four seconds over eight tournaments played this spring.

Playing for Otterbein will be:

                1. Colleen Groomes, sophomore, Elyria

                2. Chelsea Thresher, junior, Powell (Olentangy High School)

                3. Kiki Koehl, graduate, Pickerington

                4. Amy Troiano, junior, Upper Sandusky

                5. Jennifer Coco, junior, Westerville (North High School)

Friday’s second round is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. at Little Turtle.

Thresher Named OAC Golfer of the Week
(Written by Ed Syguda 04/19/04)

Chelsea Thresher, a junior from Powell (Olentangy High School), was named Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) player of the week in women’s golf, the league office released today.

Thresher earned back-to-back medalist honors to help lead her team to second-place finishes at both the Wittenberg and Mount Union Invitationals.

She shot an 85 in the 18-hole Wittenberg Spring Invitational held last Wednesday at the Windy Knoll Golf Club in Springfield. She carded a 165 (83-82) at the Mount Union Spring Invitational held Saturday and Sunday at Pleasant View in Paris.

Cards Gear Up for Stretch Run to the OAC's
(Written by Justin Hamilton 04/13/04)

The Otterbein women’s golf team is heading into the home stretch of the 2004 season.

Over the next two weeks, the Cardinals will compete in five tournaments, finishing with the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Championship April 29-30. 

Otterbein has enjoyed a successful spring season so far, according to fifth-year head coach Sharon Sexton.  The Cardinals finished 10th at the Golden Isles Women’s Collegiate Invitational held in Jekyll Island, Ga., to open the season. 

“Every team that was at the Golden Isles Invitational was a national-level program,” Sexton said.  “I was actually pleased with the fact that we shot a 366 the first day out, since it was only 11 strokes off our first day score at the OAC tournament last spring.   

“We weren't there to win the tournament.  We were there to begin working on the details necessary to defend our OAC Championship.”

Otterbein responded by winning two of the next three tournaments, and finished second at the Capital Invitational, which featured seven schools from the OAC. 

Sophomore Colleen Groomes (Elyria/Elyria) and junior Chelsea Thresher (Powell/Olentangy) have both finished in the top 10 in the last three tournaments.  Groomes won the Capital Invitational and finished fourth at the Ashland Invite before placing ninth at Ohio Northern.  Thresher finished fifth at both Ashland and Capital and placed seventh at Ohio Northern.    

“We have now seen all the competition in the OAC and there is no doubt that it is going to be a battle,” Sexton said.  “There are three or four teams this year that are strong enough to challenge for the championship.  The fact that the competition level is so much higher this year makes a statement about the growth of women's golf.”

Otterbein will compete in the Wittenberg Invitational Wednesday and in the Mount Union Invitational Saturday and Sunday before returning home to host the Lady Cardinal Invitational April 21. 

Groomes Named OAC Player of the Week
(Written by Ed Syguda 04/05/04)

Colleen Groomes, a sophomore from Elyria, was named Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) player of the week in women’s golf, the league office released today.

Groomes shot rounds of 84 and 80 to help lead her team to a second-place finish at the Capital Purple & White Invitational held last Friday and Saturday at Foxfire Golf Club in Lockbourne. She finished first by one stroke with a 164 to earn medalist honors.