The Eastern women’s golf team placed ninth out of ten teams in the Ohio Valley Conference tournament at the par-72 Hampton Cove Golf Course in Owen Cross Roads, Ala.

The Panthers shot 980 in three rounds with their best round coming Tuesday when they shot a 316 as a team.

Eastern struggled in the final round of the tournament by shooting a 337 as a team compared to the first two days where the team shot a 327 and a 316.

The 316 in the second round was the lowest round the Panthers have shot all season as a team and freshman Annie Getzen was proud of the way her team fought during the tournament.

“Today wasn’t as great,” she said. “But, we came out and showed that we can play this game. Each individual conquered little things that usually stop us, and that’s what truly matters. This tournament we didn’t let our minds get in the way of a good score.”

Getzin finished the tournament in 48^th place individually with shooting 48-over for the tournament.

Her best day came Wednesday when she shot a 14-over after shooting an 88 and a 90 the previous two days.

Getzin parred seven holes, matching her total from the previous two days.

She said the main reason for her improvement was that her irons were better.

“My putts really hurt me today,” she said. “It’s usually vice versa. But, what truly improved was my rhythm and balance of the mind. Instead of freaking out about a bad shot, instead I took it in stride and attempted to just make up in other strokes.”

Getzin said she wishes she could have contributed to the good scores as well.

“Sometimes, in golf, the swing just implodes,” she said. “Mine did that at last weeks’ tournament. I tried to work it back together during the week, but change takes time. (Wednesday) the score may not have changed much, but my game showed individual improvement in multiple areas.”

Sophomore Chloe Wong finished tied for 25^th for Eastern. She shot 22-over for the tournament and had her best day Tuesday, when she shot a 4-over 76.

Wong birdied four holes on the tournament and had 30 pars in 54 holes.

Getzin said she wasn’t surprised how well Wong shot.

“Chloe had all the parts of the game, just finally put it together for this tournament,” she said. “I’m so glad she led the team strongly this weekend. It was a long time coming.”

Eastern Kentucky ended up wining the tournament by one stroke over Jacksonville State.

The Colonels shot a 296 and was led by Sofie Levin. Levin shot 4-under in the final round of the tournament Wednesday.

Levin shot a 2-under on the front nine holes played Wednesday and birdied five holes. She only had one bogey and that was on the par-3 fourth hole.

Levin birdied 10 holes on the tournament and carded only one double bogey, which was in day one. She won the individual title as well.

Emilie Simmons of Eastern Kentucky tied for fifth place in the individuals and was a big part of the Colonels’ title.

Simmons shot a 9-over 225 for the tournament and shot two 74’s in day one and day three. Simmons shot a 1-under 35 in the first nine holes. She birdied three of the first nine as well.

Jacksonville State, as a team, shot 301 three consecutive day, but it was not enough to win the tournament.

Melania Bajo Giejo of the Gamecocks shot a 9-over 225 for the tournament, and shot a 1-over 73 in day one of the tournament, which led Jacksonville State.

The Gamecocks had two other players crack the top 10 for individuals. Maya Parsons shot a 1-under 71 in Wednesday’s round, which put her in the top 10.

Parsons improved greatly from her 13-over 85 Monday. She took a 10 on the second hole, which was a par-4 300 yard hole.

Also, Natalia Azcue tied for ninth as well as she shot a 2-over 74 in the second round of the tournament.

Tennessee Tech came in third in the tournament and was led by Whitney Robertson, who shot a 4-over 220. She was in first place after day two of the tournament, but her 3-over 75 dropped her to third.

Minta Yin from Murray State placed second for individuals as she shot a 2-over 218 for the tournament. Her best day came Wednesday when she shot a 2-under 70.

Bob Reynolds can be reached at 581-2812 or rjreynolds@eiu.edu.