Deardorff Ties For 3rd To Lead CMU Golfers

Tuesday, October 8

Silver Lake, Ohio

9 a.m.

Central Michigan University

MAC Fall Preview

Photo by: Benjamin Suddendorf

10/8/2019 4:54:00 PM | Women's Golf

By: Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com

SILVER LAKE, Ohio – A less-than-ideal finish for the Central Michigan golf team, but a very strong showing individually by junior Meghan Deardorff.

Deardorff shot a career-best 2-over par 74 on Tuesday to lead the Chippewas during the final round of the Mid-American Conference Fall Preview at Silver Lake Country Club.

Deardorff's 74 tied for the lowest round of the day, and it gave her a 13-over 229 total as she tied for third with Toledo's Saranlak Tumfong in the 64-player field.

The third-place finish was also a career best for Deardorff, and it ties for the second-best finish for an individual in program history.

Deardorff entered Tuesday's final round tied for eighth after shooting 78-77—155 on Monday. Deardorff finished six shots behind Kent State's Sitanun Jonglikit, who posted a 222 total, and was one shot behind runner-up Natai Green Apichonlati of Eastern Michigan.

"Meghan was doing everything well," CMU coach Jim Earle said. "She really methodically worked her way around an unbelievably difficult golf course. Her round on Tuesday and her performance this week under some extremely difficult circumstances solidifies her as one of the real leaders of the team and serves as a great example for the freshmen on this team.

"That performance was great for Megan; its lasting effect on the team is going to be felt for weeks on end. She's really set the tone for these freshmen; they learn a lot by just being around her and how she prepares for each tournament and how she grinds it out. Her leadership is monumental for the growth of these freshmen."

Earle said Silver Lake played long with lightning quick greens and challenging pin placements. That made Deardorff's performance all the more impressive, he added.

"It was draining the way they had this course set up," he said. "If you got in any type of trouble you were in a world of hurt. Fastest greens we've ever seen and the pin locations were very difficult. Deardorff's tournament was impressive as any three days as anybody has had in Central history. That 74 was like a 68."

CMU freshman Claudia Salvador shot 81 to finish with a 237 total and finish 14^th, while teammates Padgett Chitty finished tied for 47^th, Zoe Vartyan was among a group tied for 53^rd, and Rachel Leucuta finished 60^th.

Chitty shot 85 on Tuesday to finish at 253; Vartyan shot 88 to come in at 258; and Leucuta shot 87 to finish at 266. The Chippewas were without junior Jami Laude, the team captain, because of injury.

The Chippewas posted a 327 team score on Tuesday to finish in seventh place at 976. They were one shot behind Youngstown State (975). Eastern Michigan shot 312 to finish at 942 and win the tournament by five shots over runner-up Akron.

"What the team learned is when you're playing MAC competition you better bring your A game or you're going to get lapped," Earle said. "I think the first two tournaments we were able to get by with high finishes and (overcoming) a few mistakes, but if we're going to make big numbers we're not going to beat anybody in the MAC.

"We've got to get back to work and control those mistakes and play to our strengths and take advantage of those scoring opportunities."

Kent State, which is ranked fourth nationally, did not send a full team. All other nine MAC teams were represented. The MAC Championships are scheduled for Silver Lake April 16-18.

The Chippewas are scheduled to play in the Mastodon Fall Invite, hosted by Purdue Fort Wayne, on Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 14-15, and then close the fall portion of their schedule when they host the Chippewa Invitational Oct. 21-22 at Birmingham Country Club.