Falcons Win 2012 Spring Challenge Cup

Monday, April 16

Findlay, Ohio

All Day

Bowling Green State University

Spring Challenge Cup (vs. Ohio University)

April 18, 2012 | Women's Golf

By: by Matthew Daley, Athletic Communications Intern

FINDLAY, Ohio -- The Bowling Green State University captured the Spring Challenge Cup for the first time in the event's three-year existence on Monday (April 16) when the Falcons defeated Ohio University, 8-2. The match-play event was held at the Red Hawk Golf Club in Findlay, Ohio.

The two six-player teams combined to play a total of 12 matches. Each match was worth one point for the winner, with ties giving each team 0.5 points. The winner of the event would be the first team to 6.5 points. Each player competed in two nine-hole foursome matches and one 18-hole singles match.

In the morning foursomes, the Falcons won four of six possible points.

The three matches on the front nine were followed alternate-shot rules. Shelby Wilson and Paula DiFrancesco defeated Kara Brinkmann and Sarah Tranelli 2-and-1, while Amy Ruthenberg and Kelsey Benson outlasted Kristen Helmsdoerfer and Julie Lechner, again by a count of 2-and-1.

Bailey Arnold and Patricia Holt lost to Megan and Meryl Weaver by the closest possible margin -- 1-up.

Best-ball matches were featured on the back nine, and BGSU again won two of three. Arnold and DiFrancesco took care of business by a mark of 3-and-2 against Lechner and Brinkmann. Ruthenberg and Holt also won; they defeated Helmsdoerfer and Meryl Weaver 2-and-1. Benson and Weaver fell to Tranelli and Megan Weaver, also by a 2-and-1 margin.

Bowling Green players completed dominated the afternoon session. The six-player team won each of the first four singles matches that were completed. That allowed BGSU to gain the winning margin in the day's competition. The final two matches were stopped prior to completion, but BGSU players were leading both matches at the time they were suspended.

Wilson made quick work of Megan Weaver, as the match ended with Wilson 6-up. The pair had dueled on Saturday and Sunday during the Dolores Black Falcon Invitational, with Weaver ultimately finishing second to Wilson's fourth.

Arnold also won handily; her match with Tranelli ended after 15 holes with a final count of 4-and-3. In other action, DiFrancesco beat Helmsdoerfer 3-and-2, while Ruthenberg topped Meryl Weaver 1-up.

Benson's match with Lechner, along with Holt's match with Brinkmann, were called early with Benson and Holt both leading.

The Falcons now have a week to prepare for the 2012 Mid-American Conference Championships, which begin in Fishers, Ind. on Friday, April 27th. More details about the championship tournament will be available next week.