HOWEY-IN-THE-HILLS, Fla. - The Wittenberg Tigers made a big move on Day 3 of the NCAA Division III Tournament, climbing one spot in the standings by turning in the best round of the competition with a 308.
The third round surge puts Wittenberg in a three-team race to the finish in Friday's final round. Williams leads the tournament with a total of 950 strokes, followed by second-round leader Washington University with 956 and Wittenberg with 958. There is a gap after the top three, with Texas-Tyler at 974 and Redlands and defending national champion Rhodes tied for fifth at 980.
The Tigers are competing in the NCAA Divison III Tournament for the first time in their 12th year as an intercollegiate program. Wittenberg was in fourth place after each of the first two rounds, but the Tigers, with just one senior in the lineup, showed the mettle of a veteran team in the third round to shave 12 strokes off their deficit at the challenging El Campeon course at Mission Inn Resort.
"We have put ourselves in a great position heading into the final round," said Head Coach Jeff Roope. "If you had asked any of us back in September if we would be thrilled to be eight strokes out of the lead at the NCAA Tournament, we would certainly have agreed with that."
In leading the Tigers into title contention, sophomore Macy Hubbard (Mason, Ohio/Mason) also put herself in the running for an individual crown with an even-par round of 72. Her three-round total of 14-over-par 230 puts her in fourth place, six strokes off the lead.
Hubbard's 72 was a collegiate best for the sophomore standout, who was the North Coast Athletic Conference medalist by a whopping 13 strokes.
Senior Nicole Waers (Canton, Ohio/Perry) also posted her best score of the week in the third round with a four-over-par 76 to move into 14th place overall. Freshman Jane Hopkinson-Wood (Pottstown, Pa./The Hill School) finished with a 79 to stand 27th in the 110-player field after three rounds.
Junior Allie Lawwill (Springboro, Ohio/Middletown) jumped into the scoring for the Tigers for the first time in the tournament with a stellar round of 81, moving her into 73rd individually. Junior Maggie Smith (Cincinnati, Ohio/Sycamore) carded an 87 and heads into the final round in 33rd place.
"The golf couse had more opportunities today, and our ladies really took advantage of them," Roope said. "We talked about being patient and not trying to force things during the first two rounds.
"Macy continued her hot play, and it is just great to see her grow and mature with each round she plays. All of the players today really made strides, and it was great to see Allie show such resilience with her round."
Wittenberg will tee off in the final round with Williams and Washington University later in the day. The first tee time for a Tiger player is 1:05 p.m. as Lawwill gets things going, with Hubbard slated for the final tee time at 1:45 p.m.
Written By: Ryan Maurer