Central Michigan University Athletics
Tuesday, April 22
Muncie, Ind. (Delaware Country Club)
9 a.m.
Central Michigan University
at
MAC Championship
Freshman Ella Zanatta shot a 3-over 75 to lead CMU during the final round of the MAC Championship on Tuesday at Delaware Country Club in Muncie, Ind.
Photo by: Joe Grogan '25 - @leazier.media
Niskanen Finishes 11th to Lead Women's Golf at MAC Championship
4/22/2025 3:51:00 PM | Women's Golf
Chippewas finish tied for 7th in 10-team field
MUNCIE, Ind. – Ella Zanatta shot a 3-over par 75 and Rachel Niskanen posted a 77 on Tuesday to lead the Central Michigan women's golf team in the final round of the Mid-American Conference Championship at Delaware Country Club.
The Chippewas shot 312 as a team on Tuesday to finish with a 925 total and in a tie for seventh place with Akron in the 10-team field. CMU opened on Sunday with a 305 and then shot 308 in Monday's blustery second round.
CMU was seeded 10th heading into the tournament and finished three spots ahead of that.
"We hung in there, we played tough all three rounds and tried to get everything we had out of it," CMU coach Ryan Williams said. "We didn't have our best stuff today; it was a bit of a struggle, but we battled.
"Overall, we finished about where I thought we would. After (Monday) I thought there was a real chance for us to move up with a good day today. We didn't have it and that didn't happen. But overall, I thought we played decent and there's nothing to be truly disappointed with.
"It was a great golf course; it was set up well and it firmed up today. That was the tricky part – once it dried out it was pretty firm and fast, and the wind laid down so it was out there to get and some of those teams went and did that.
"We've got a young group and they learned a lot from the experience. We're hungry to get better moving forward and I think they're ready to do that."
Niskanen, a sophomore, posted twin 75s in the first two rounds and finished with a 227 total to tie for 11th in the 50-player field. She finished tied for 21st in last year's MAC Championship.
"Rachel had a really solid tournament," CMU coach Ryan Williams said. "She didn't have her best ball striking, but she got up and down a ton of times, she managed herself, and she kept rounds going.
"Would have liked to have seen a better finish from her today and I think she was a little disappointed in that, but overall really solid performance from her."
Zanatta, a freshman, finished with a 230 total to place 24th. She opened with a 4-over 76 and then shot 79 in the second round.
"Ella played well today," Williams said. "She didn't have all of her best stuff, but you can depend on her to grind and do everything she can to get it in with the lowest number possible and she did that. She's ready to come back next year and play hard and keep getting better and I'm excited to see what she can do this summer and I'm excited to see what that looks like moving forward."
CMU's Hailey Katona, a graduate student playing in her final collegiate tournament, finished tied for 18th after a final-round 80 for a 229 total. Katona started the final round tied for seventh after an opening-round 74 and a second-round 75.
Katona was playing her one and only season as a Chippewa after transferring from Mercer. She posted five top-10 finishes this season.
"Hailey had a solid week," Williams said. "She didn't have the finish she wanted, but she had a great college career and a good year for us. Really appreciate her effort and her hard work and her competitiveness and what she did to help elevate our program and help push those younger kids to learn and mature.
"She left a mark on our program and we're really grateful for that and that she chose to come to Central and play her final her of golf. I think she enjoyed her experience. It's sad to see a career end, but I'm really happy that she chose to do it with us."
Also for CMU, freshman Lauren Davis closed with an 80 and redshirt junior Alexis McMurray shot 81. Davis finished tied for 37th with a 239 total, while McMurray placed 42nd with a 241.
Kent State maintained its stranglehold on the team title, winning its 26th consecutive crown with an 873 total for a 28-shot victory over second-place Bowling Green. The Golden Flashes posted a 288 team score on Tuesday.
Ball State's Jasmine Driscoll shot a final-round 2-over 74 for a 54-hole 218 total to claim medalist honors. She won by one shot over four players.
The Chippewas shot 312 as a team on Tuesday to finish with a 925 total and in a tie for seventh place with Akron in the 10-team field. CMU opened on Sunday with a 305 and then shot 308 in Monday's blustery second round.
CMU was seeded 10th heading into the tournament and finished three spots ahead of that.
"We hung in there, we played tough all three rounds and tried to get everything we had out of it," CMU coach Ryan Williams said. "We didn't have our best stuff today; it was a bit of a struggle, but we battled.
"Overall, we finished about where I thought we would. After (Monday) I thought there was a real chance for us to move up with a good day today. We didn't have it and that didn't happen. But overall, I thought we played decent and there's nothing to be truly disappointed with.
"It was a great golf course; it was set up well and it firmed up today. That was the tricky part – once it dried out it was pretty firm and fast, and the wind laid down so it was out there to get and some of those teams went and did that.
"We've got a young group and they learned a lot from the experience. We're hungry to get better moving forward and I think they're ready to do that."
Niskanen, a sophomore, posted twin 75s in the first two rounds and finished with a 227 total to tie for 11th in the 50-player field. She finished tied for 21st in last year's MAC Championship.
"Rachel had a really solid tournament," CMU coach Ryan Williams said. "She didn't have her best ball striking, but she got up and down a ton of times, she managed herself, and she kept rounds going.
"Would have liked to have seen a better finish from her today and I think she was a little disappointed in that, but overall really solid performance from her."
Zanatta, a freshman, finished with a 230 total to place 24th. She opened with a 4-over 76 and then shot 79 in the second round.
"Ella played well today," Williams said. "She didn't have all of her best stuff, but you can depend on her to grind and do everything she can to get it in with the lowest number possible and she did that. She's ready to come back next year and play hard and keep getting better and I'm excited to see what she can do this summer and I'm excited to see what that looks like moving forward."
CMU's Hailey Katona, a graduate student playing in her final collegiate tournament, finished tied for 18th after a final-round 80 for a 229 total. Katona started the final round tied for seventh after an opening-round 74 and a second-round 75.
Katona was playing her one and only season as a Chippewa after transferring from Mercer. She posted five top-10 finishes this season.
"Hailey had a solid week," Williams said. "She didn't have the finish she wanted, but she had a great college career and a good year for us. Really appreciate her effort and her hard work and her competitiveness and what she did to help elevate our program and help push those younger kids to learn and mature.
"She left a mark on our program and we're really grateful for that and that she chose to come to Central and play her final her of golf. I think she enjoyed her experience. It's sad to see a career end, but I'm really happy that she chose to do it with us."
Also for CMU, freshman Lauren Davis closed with an 80 and redshirt junior Alexis McMurray shot 81. Davis finished tied for 37th with a 239 total, while McMurray placed 42nd with a 241.
Kent State maintained its stranglehold on the team title, winning its 26th consecutive crown with an 873 total for a 28-shot victory over second-place Bowling Green. The Golden Flashes posted a 288 team score on Tuesday.
Ball State's Jasmine Driscoll shot a final-round 2-over 74 for a 54-hole 218 total to claim medalist honors. She won by one shot over four players.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
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