Emily Howerton

The College of Wooster's women's golf team finished near the top of the pack at its own Wooster Spring Invitational, as it took fifth-place, just four strokes back from fourth, at the 11-team event on Saturday and Sunday at the Mohican Hills Golf Club in Jeromesville, Ohio.

Denison University was well ahead with a 655, but the next four teams were separated by just 23 strokes, with Otterbein University (693), University of Mount Union (695), Ohio Wesleyan University (711), and the host Fighting Scots (715) tightly bunched atop the crowded field.

The Scots were remarkably consistent over 36 holes, carding a 358 on Saturday's 18 and a 357 on Sunday, against the par-72, 5,841-yard course.

There wasn't much difference between the scores of Wooster's top-four players, as Emily Howerton (178), Sharmeen Chinoy (179), Victoria Roney (180), and Hannah Buzolits (183) finished only five strokes apart, but the way each golfer got there varied.

Howerton made her move on Sunday, where she shot an 86, compared to a 92 on Saturday. Overall, she had eight pars on the weekend, but it was her birdies during her second round that stood out. Howerton birdied two par-five holes, both the 412-yard No. 8 and the 475-yard No. 13, to lead the Scots' day-two efforts.

Chinoy recorded par on 15 holes over the weekend, including nine on Saturday, but a couple challenging par-five holes cost her from a much lower opening round score. She finished with a 179 (89-90), one stroke behind Howerton.

Roney got off to a hot start, with pars on four of her first seven holes Saturday, and she totaled 10 pars in all on her way to matching 90's.

Buzolits had the Scots' second lowest round of the tournament with her 87 on Saturday. Early on, she birdied the par-four, 334-yard fifth hole, and later she carded another birdie, this time on the par-three, 149-yard No. 11. She went on to par three of the final four holes that day, rounding out a strong afternoon.

Mallorey Stack shot a 188 (97-91), highlighted by six pars Sunday, including three in a row during one stretch, while Alyssa Gilbert shot a 191 (100-91), although neither golfer's efforts counted towards the Scots' team score.

Next up is the North Coast Athletic Conference Championship series, with the first event taking place April 25-26 at the Apple Valley Golf Course at Howard, Ohio.