The women’s golf team won the Lady Northern tournament yesterday, led by a standout effort from individual winner, senior Kira Meixner.

After the first two rounds of play Saturday, Meixner led by 5 strokes, with the only under-par score. She shot a 6-under-par first round and followed it up with a 1-over-par second.

Meixner shot 1-over-par Sunday to finish as medalist atop the individual leader board at 4-under-par. Michigan State’s Laura Kueny, who won the Mary Fossum Invitational, the last tournament the Flashes participated in, finished with the only other under par score.

Coach Mike Morrow said he was proud of the Meixner’s individual effort as well as the support her play gave to the rest of the team.

“Kira had a very good first round in a quality field with a lot of very good players,” Morrow said. “I’m very happy for her to be a medalist, but I’m even happier that she contributed so much to the team.”

Meixner said she did not set out to win tournaments at the start of her senior season, only to gain new insight on the game of golf.

“It’s hard to say you want to win a certain amount of tournaments in a year,” Meixner said. “I want to learn as much as I can about the game before I leave Kent State, and give myself a chance to win in every tournament.”

Freshman Martina Gavier also had a stellar first round, shooting 3-under-par, the only other under-par score of the tournament for the Flashes.

Kent State was on top of the team leader board in what turned out to be a two team race, with a score of 9-over-par, leading Michigan State by one shot. The third-place team after the first day was Indiana at 26-over-par.

In the end, Kent State won the tournament by 5 strokes over Michigan State, with no other program within 17 strokes. For a short time on the final day, Michigan State actually held the lead, but Kent State quickly bounced back.

Morrow said he thinks the women’s golf teams at Kent State and Michigan State have been comparable in the recent past.

“I think our two programs have mirrored each other over the last five years,” Morrow said. “Some years we’re a little better, some years they’re a little better, but there’s definitely a lot of respect between the programs.”

Kent State defeated Mid-American Conference rivals Eastern Michigan and Toledo who finished tied for seventh and in 13th, respectively. The event, hosted by Penn State, also featured many Big Ten Conference teams, including third place finisher Indiana and fourth place Ohio State.

Morrow said the team set the groundwork for this victory before it even started playing. He said practice and a good final round on Sept. 9 at the Mary Fossum Invitational invigorated the team.

“I think the final round at the Mary Fossum Invitational was a springboard and the fine play carried over to this week,” Morrow said.

The women’s golf team plays next at the Mercedes Benz Women’s Collegiate at Knoxville, Tenn. on Oct. 12.

Contact golf reporter Thomas Gallick at [email protected].