Strong Day 2 Propels Tigers Into Second Place At Washington U.

The Tigers were all smiles after moving up two spots on the final day of the Washington University Spring Invitational. Photo courtesy of Chris Mitchell, Washington University
The Tigers were all smiles after moving up two spots on the final day of the Washington University Spring Invitational. Photo courtesy of Chris Mitchell, Washington University

MADISON, Ill. - The Wittenberg Tigers continued their impressive run through the 2014-15 season with perhaps their finest result to date, a second-place finish in the Washington University Spring Invitational.

The Tigers topped 13 other NCAA Division III programs in the 15-team field after drawing even with host Washington University with a two-day score of 630. William Woods, the sixth-ranked team in NAIA, won the event for the fourth straight year with a score of 605.

Wittenberg staged a tremendous rally in the second round, carding a 311 to make up 12 strokes on Washington University, which was in sole possession of second place when Day 2 began. The Tigers stood fourth after the opening round at the Gateway Golf Links.

Wittenberg was led individually by freshman Jane Hopkinson-Wood (Pottstown, Pa./The Hill School) with a two-round score of 149, good for second place. She carded rounds of 77 and 72, which matched her school record posted a week ago at the Joe Duncan Rhodes Invitational.

Sophomore Macy Hubbard (Mason, Ohio/Mason) also earned a top-10 finish with a score of 158, which was good for ninth place. Senior Nicole Waers (Canton, Ohio/Perry) placed 19th with a score of 162, junior Allie Lawwill (Springboro, Ohio/Middletown) took 21st with a 163, and junior Maggie Smith (Cincinnati, Ohio/Sycamore) rounded things out with a 165 to place 26th.

The field at the Washington University Spring Invitational included nine of the top 25 teams in the latest NCAA Division III statistical rankings as accumulated by GolfStat.

Wittenberg has now played eight tournaments in the 2014-15 season and has finished in the top three each time. The Tigers have won five times.

Written By: Ryan Maurer