MARQUETTE — The Northern Michigan University women’s golf team participated in two tournaments over a three-day stretch downstate that ended Monday.

The Wildcats finished ninth out of 15 teams Saturday at the Lady Bulldog Invitational hosted by Ferris State in Big Rapids, then were eighth of 15 squads in the two-day Gilda’s Club Laker Invitational hosted by Grand Valley State in Allendale on Sunday and Monday.

In the first event, NMU played two 18-hole rounds in a single day, with Annie Pietila shooting rounds of 76 and 82 for 158 to tie for 23rd. Pietila’s opening round featured five birdies, including three in a row on the front nine of this par-72, 6,005-yard course.

Next for the Wildcats was Hailey Bolander with 82-79–161 to tie for 32nd as she made a pair of birdies in her second round.

Maya Hunter had 85-82–167 to tie for 48th, while Alyssa Yaggie had 82-87–169 to tie for 52nd. Teammate Paxton Johnson played as an unattached golfer and shot 88-84–172 to tie for 60th, while Maggie Pietila had 94-84–178 for 70th.

Teamwise, the Wildcats racked up 18 birdies, including at least one by each player, and shot team rounds of 325 and 327 for 652.

Saginaw Valley State won the team title with 310-302–612, with Ferris runner-up with 314-306-620. Among the teams the Wildcats finished ahead of were fellow GLIAC schools Northwood, Davenport, Purdue Northwest and Lake Superior State.

On Monday and Tuesday, NMU again played 36 holes as Hunter led her team with 76 and 82 for a two-day total of 158, good for a tie for 20th.

Annie Pietila had a pair of 80s for 160, tied for 26th, while Yaggie had 78-87–165 and a tie for 46th. Johnson shot 84-82–166, a tie for 49th; Bolander shot 82-86–168, a tie for 53rd; and Maggie Pietila had 82-89–171, tied for 60th.

Northern shot team rounds of 316 and 332 for 648 as Findlay won with 397-310–607 and GVSU was second with 306-311–617. NMU finished ahead of GLIAC foes Davenport, Northwood, LSSU and Purdue NW.

The Wildcats women’s golfers return to the course on Monday and Tuesday for the William Beall Classic in Findlay, Ohio.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.