Ward Earns Women's Golfer of the Week Honors
Women's Golfer of The Week
Brielle Ward, Northern illinois
Senior, Frisco, Texas (Wakeland)
Senior Brielle Ward claimed the second outright tournament victory of her career by a five-stroke margin. She shot a two-under par 70 Monday and finished the 54-hole event at four-under par 212, the second lowest 54-hole individual score in NIU history. Ward was the only player to shoot all three rounds under par at the event. The Redbird Invitational field also included MAC teams Ball State, Bowling Green, Akron and Ohio.
Other Nominees
Marissa Kirkwood, Kent State
Junior, New Castle, Pa.
Junior Marissa Kirkwood led the Flashes’ lineup and helped the Flashes open the 2018-19 season with its first tournament win. Kirkwood finished tied for sixth with a 2-under par 214 score over the two days at the Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational. The junior posted 1-under par scores for her first two rounds and finished the final round with an even-par score and went 16 holes for par or less with two birdies. The junior was second in the tournament on par-3 scoring at 2-under with a 2.83 average.
Danielle Nicholson, Akron
Senior, Geneva High School
Senior Danielle Nicholson (Geneva, Ohio) led the Akron Zips women's golf team at the season opening Redbird Invitational, firing a 225 (+9) and finishing inside the Top 10 as the Zips placed 11th overall in team scoring (943, +79). On the final day of competition, Nicholson climbed three spots on the leaderboard with additional 2-over par 74 effort. She recorded 13 pars and two birdies en route to a three-way stalemate for ninth place overall with a 225 (+9) tournament total. In addition, Nicholson finished second in par 4 scoring, averaging 3.90 strokes per and 1-under for the final round. She entered the final round ranked 12th overall after carding 77 (+5) and 74 (+2) scores. Nicholson tallied a total of 33 pars and five birdies.
Erin Fahey, Bowling Green
Senior, Austin, Texas (Vandegrift)
Erin Fahey recorded the 13th top-10 finish of her illustrious career over the weekend, as the Falcons opened their 2018-19 season at the Redbird Invitational in Normal, Illinois. The senior from Austin, Texas carded rounds of 74-80-71 to finish tied for ninth out of 84 golfers. Fahey's final-round 71 featured just a single bogey.
Manon Tounalom, Ball State
Junior, Buchelay, France (Lycée Notre Dame)
Manon Tounalom carded the best 54-hole score of her career by seven strokes to finish runner-up at Illinois State's Redbird Invitational. Tounalom carded rounds of 72, 71 and 74 to finish at 1 over par with a three-round total of 217. The runner-up finish was the best of her career, and she led Ball State to a third-place result as a team. Tounalom made nine birdies over the three rounds and played the par-5's in 4 under par. She has now been the Cardinals' top finisher in 10 of the past 12 tournaments dating back to last season.
Emily Hughes, Ohio
Senior, Columbus, Ohio (Gahanna Lincoln)
Senior Emily Hughes led the way for the Bobcats to open the 2018 season. Hughes finished the 2018 redbird Invitational tied for ninth place after finishing the tournament with a three-round total of 225 (+9). Hughes opened the tournament on Sunday, shooting a 79 in the opening round, before coming back later in the day to record a 74. Hughes then entered the day on Monday tied for 17th place, before shooting a tournament-low round of 71, moving her up the leaderboard to help her finish +9 and tied for ninth place. Overall, Hughes' performance helped Ohio finish the Redbird Invitational in sixth place after finishing the tournament with a three-round total of 926 (+62).
