Central Michigan University Athletics
Tuesday, October 8
Portage, Mich. (Moors Golf Club)
9 a.m.
Central Michigan University
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Bronco Fall Classic
Sophomore Rachel Niskanen finished second in a 60-player field to lead the CMU women's golf team at the Bronco Fall Classic at the Moors in Portage.
Photo by: Andy Sneddon
Niskanen (2nd), Katona (T4) Lead Women's Golf at Bronco Fall Classic
10/8/2024 3:52:00 PM | Women's Golf
PORTAGE, Mich. – Rachel Niskanen placed second and Hailey Katona tied for fourth on Tuesday to lead the Central Michigan women's golf team in the Bronco Fall Classic at the Moors Golf Club.
It was the first career top-10 finish for Niskanen, a sophomore, who shot a 2-over par 74 in Tuesday's final round to finish with a 11-over 227 total. She opened the tournament on Monday with a 4-over 76 and then shot 5-over 77 in Monday's second round.
"She played really, really well, really steady golf," CMU coach Ryan Williams said. "The golf course was difficult. It's a tough test tee to green. There's a ton of hazards, there's a lot of forced carries, and the pins were pretty tough too. It was really just a test of patience and resilience and you've got to have some self-confidence and belief in yourself over some shots and Rachel has that and she showed it.
"It was a big result for her and for her confidence going forward. Happy for her and happy for her to see that she's capable. Great to see."
Katona closed with a 1-over 73, her best score as a Chippewa, to finish at 13-over 229. She opened the final round tied for 15th and moved up 11 spots, the biggest leap of any player in the 60-player field.
Her 73 was the lowest final-round score in the field and one shot off the best score in the entire 54-hole event.
"The round that she put together today was really impressive," Williams said. "She took what the course gave her, she gave herself some opportunities, and she managed the tough parts of the golf course.
"She did exactly what we needed. She played really well, and I think she's going to take some confidence from that. She's getting more and more comfortable out there and continuing to learn and grow. Really sold performance and it's really good see."
It marked Katona's third top-five finish in four tournaments this fall. She tied for fifth in the season-opening A-Ga-Ming Invitational and last week tied for fifth in the Toledo Rocket Classic.
Niskanen and Katona led the Chippewas to a 305 team score in the final round as CMU finished with a 937 total, good for fourth place in the nine-team event.
CMU's final-round 305 was the best score of the day by seven shots and tied for the second-best single-round team score in the tournament.
"The scores got better as we went," Williams said. "It took some of the players a few tries to get more comfortable with some of the shots out there and kind of figure out how best to play a few of the holes.
"Today was a good round for us. That shows that we're one of the best teams out there. I think when we play our game, we're really solid and we can keep building on that and we can keep gaining confidence.
"I think today they played with not much to lose and with the understanding that you've got to commit to shots. I think we played freer and with more confidence. They're learning and it's a young group and sometimes you learn on the fly and today was an example of that, that some of the lessons are sinking in which is really good to see. We want to keep trending in that direction and keep gaining confidence."
The Chippewas finished seven shots behind host Western Michigan, which was third with 930, and eight shots back of second-place Ohio (929). Cal State Northridge (924) won the tournament.
Also for the Chippewas, Ella Zanatta shot 80 on Tuesday to finish 22nd with a 239 total; Brooke Morris finished 29th after a final-round 81 and a 245 total; Lauren Davis posted a 6-over 78 on Tuesday to finish at 251 and tied for 44th.
Three Chippewas, Alexis McMurray, Lexi Schulman and Evanka Shah, played in the tournament as individuals. McMurray closed with an 85 to finish tied for 26th with a 244 total; Schulman shot 87 on Tuesday for a 251 total and a tie for 40th; and Shah closed with an 89 for a 263 total and in 51st place.
Medalist Gracie Piar of Cal State Northridge closed with a 4-over 76 and a 221 total.
It was the first career top-10 finish for Niskanen, a sophomore, who shot a 2-over par 74 in Tuesday's final round to finish with a 11-over 227 total. She opened the tournament on Monday with a 4-over 76 and then shot 5-over 77 in Monday's second round.
"She played really, really well, really steady golf," CMU coach Ryan Williams said. "The golf course was difficult. It's a tough test tee to green. There's a ton of hazards, there's a lot of forced carries, and the pins were pretty tough too. It was really just a test of patience and resilience and you've got to have some self-confidence and belief in yourself over some shots and Rachel has that and she showed it.
"It was a big result for her and for her confidence going forward. Happy for her and happy for her to see that she's capable. Great to see."
Katona closed with a 1-over 73, her best score as a Chippewa, to finish at 13-over 229. She opened the final round tied for 15th and moved up 11 spots, the biggest leap of any player in the 60-player field.
Her 73 was the lowest final-round score in the field and one shot off the best score in the entire 54-hole event.
"The round that she put together today was really impressive," Williams said. "She took what the course gave her, she gave herself some opportunities, and she managed the tough parts of the golf course.
"She did exactly what we needed. She played really well, and I think she's going to take some confidence from that. She's getting more and more comfortable out there and continuing to learn and grow. Really sold performance and it's really good see."
It marked Katona's third top-five finish in four tournaments this fall. She tied for fifth in the season-opening A-Ga-Ming Invitational and last week tied for fifth in the Toledo Rocket Classic.
Niskanen and Katona led the Chippewas to a 305 team score in the final round as CMU finished with a 937 total, good for fourth place in the nine-team event.
CMU's final-round 305 was the best score of the day by seven shots and tied for the second-best single-round team score in the tournament.
"The scores got better as we went," Williams said. "It took some of the players a few tries to get more comfortable with some of the shots out there and kind of figure out how best to play a few of the holes.
"Today was a good round for us. That shows that we're one of the best teams out there. I think when we play our game, we're really solid and we can keep building on that and we can keep gaining confidence.
"I think today they played with not much to lose and with the understanding that you've got to commit to shots. I think we played freer and with more confidence. They're learning and it's a young group and sometimes you learn on the fly and today was an example of that, that some of the lessons are sinking in which is really good to see. We want to keep trending in that direction and keep gaining confidence."
The Chippewas finished seven shots behind host Western Michigan, which was third with 930, and eight shots back of second-place Ohio (929). Cal State Northridge (924) won the tournament.
Also for the Chippewas, Ella Zanatta shot 80 on Tuesday to finish 22nd with a 239 total; Brooke Morris finished 29th after a final-round 81 and a 245 total; Lauren Davis posted a 6-over 78 on Tuesday to finish at 251 and tied for 44th.
Three Chippewas, Alexis McMurray, Lexi Schulman and Evanka Shah, played in the tournament as individuals. McMurray closed with an 85 to finish tied for 26th with a 244 total; Schulman shot 87 on Tuesday for a 251 total and a tie for 40th; and Shah closed with an 89 for a 263 total and in 51st place.
Medalist Gracie Piar of Cal State Northridge closed with a 4-over 76 and a 221 total.
Players Mentioned
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