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By Mara Waire
wairem@findlay.edu
Both the men’s and women’s teams competed against Ashland University in medal match play in Florence, Indiana. The women’s team competed on April 17, while the men’s team concluded match play on April 22. In medal match play, each player was paired individually, and the Oilers faced Ashland; the lowest score in each pairing determined the match winner.
On the women’s side, the Oilers claimed the title with a 4.5–0.5 victory in a head-to-head format against Ashland.
Ellie Yeazel started the match for the Oilers. The competition remained close and, after the 16th hole, the match was tied with only two holes left to play. Yeazel secured a birdie on the 17th hole, followed by a bogey, which created a pivotal swing. She ultimately secured the win, carding a 73 (+2) while her opponent carded a 74 (+3).
Junior Ashleigh Duflo followed, delivering an outstanding nine-stroke victory by carding a 67 (−3), the lowest medal match score of the day.
The Oilers then led 2–0 and needed only one more win to claim the championship. Senior Hayley Dye achieved this by carding a 78 (+7) against her opponent, who finished with an 81 (+10).
In the following match, sophomore Gracie James added another point, securing a three-stroke victory after building a lead as large as six shots. She closed the match with a 76 (+5). Freshman Emma Myer split her match, with both players carding 75 (+4).
This marks the Oilers’ eighth consecutive G-MAC title and ninth consecutive conference championship, dating back to the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
The Oilers will return to action on Monday, May 4, hosting the NCAA East Regional three-day tournament at Findlay Country Club.
On the men’s side, freshman Ross Dietz secured the G-MAC Individual Title, recording a 68 (-3) in the final round. He is the first freshman to claim the title since 2018. Reflecting on the tournament, Dietz shared,
“To be honest, winning the individual title was sweet, but nothing can top the feeling of winning as a team. I was beyond proud of all our guys for putting up a good fight on the last day, when the course was playing tough. To see that we were able to come out on top was a greater feeling than winning the individual title,” Dietz said.
Wrapping up stroke play on April 22nd in Florence,as well, the men claimed their fourth G-MAC title in the NCAA era of the program, second in the last three years.
After the first day of match play, the Oilers moved to a head-to-head match against Ashland, as the two teams were the top two in the tournament.
Junior Colin Shadek started off for the Oilers, maintaining a three-stroke lead through the 8th hole, but then tied after 11th, took a one-shot lead through the 15th, and maintained through the 18th hole, earning one point for the Oilers, recording a 73 (+2).
Up next was Senior Luke Metzger. Rough start down three strokes through ten holes, however, recovered and tied on the 13th hole and stayed steady the rest of the match to claim another point for the oilers with a 3-stroke lead, winning 77 (+6)
In need of just one point, Dietz did just enough to earn the point, leading by five after 6 holes, but trimmed to just two after the 12th hole, remaining steady and winning by four shots, carding a 74 (+3)
Finishing up the lineup were senior Zach Miller and sophomore Cahle Roth. Miller was down by three at the beginning but tied on the 13th hole, finishing with a 75 (+4), two shots behind the opponent. Roth trails by five through nine holes, still behind through 15, and came up shy, finishing four shots behind with a score of 75 (+4).
This outstanding effort not only gave the Oilers the G-MAC title but a bid to the NCAA DII Super regional in Big Rapids, Michigan, where they’ll begin competition May 7th to conclude on the 9th.
