Katona Fires a 2-under 70 to Lead Women's Golf at Rio Verde

Saturday, February 22

Rio Verde, Ariz. (Rio Verde Country Club)

Noon ET

Central Michigan University

Rio Verde Collegiate

Katona Fires a 2-under 70 to Lead Women's Golf at Rio Verde Image

Hailey Katona shot a 2-under 70 on Saturday to lead the CMU women's golf team at the Rio Verde Collegiate in Rio Verde, Ariz. The 70 was Katona's best as a Chippewa and she is tied for eighth place in the 104-player field.

Photo by: Jack Reeber '23,M'25 - @jackreeber.raw

2/22/2025 7:05:00 PM | Women's Golf

Chippewas tied for 6th in 21-team field heading into Sunday's final round

By: Andy Sneddon

RIO VERDE, Ariz. – Hailey Katona shot a 2-under par 70 on Saturday to move up 28 spots and into the top 10 and lead the Central Michigan women's golf team during the second round of the Rio Verde Collegiate at Rio Verde Country Club.

Katona led the Chippewas to a 300 team total. Combined with their opening-round 299, the Chippewas are tied for sixth place in the 21-team field with a 599 total.

The Chippewas' first-round 299 was their second best 18-hole team total of the 2024-25 season, and their Saturday 300 stands as the third best. Their 599 is a season best for 36 holes.

CMU is one of six Mid-American Conference teams in the tournament field. Ball State is the leading MAC team, just two shots ahead of CMU at 597. Akron (604) is tied for ninth, Ohio (608) is 12^th, Western Michigan is tied for 15^th at 614, and Bowling Green (623) is 20^th.

The third and final round of the 54-hole event is scheduled for Sunday (10:30 a.m. ET/8:30 a.m. MT).

The 70 was Katona's best as a Chippewa. A graduate student playing her first season in maroon gold, Katona moved into a tie for eighth place with a 1-over 145 total. The 145 is her best 36-hole total as a Chippewa.

She began her Saturday round on the fourth hole and carded seven consecutive pars before making her lone bogey on the par-5 10^th. She rebounded with birdies on Nos. 12, 17 and 18 and then parred out for her 2-under 70, which tied her with Xavier's Emma Welch for the third best round of the day in the 104-player field.

CMU freshman Ella Zanatta posted her second consecutive 73 on Saturday and is among a group tied for 12^th at 146, while Chippewa sophomore Rachel Niskanen shot a 1-over 74 and is tied for 35^th with a 151 total.

Zanatta's 146 and Niskanen's 151 are their career 36-hole bests.

Also for CMU on Saturday, Brooke Morris shot 83 and Lauren Davis carded an 84.

Xavier shot 284 on Saturday to move into first place with a 576 total, three shots ahead of California Baptist.

Xavier's Isabel Brozena shot a 4-under 68 on Saturday and leads the tournament at 6-under 138. Illinois State's Jinyoung Yun is in second place, two shots back.