Members of the Northern Michigan University women’s golf team huddle together during a match held this spring. (Photo courtesy NMU)

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The season ended Wednesday for the Northern Michigan University women’s golf team at the NCAA Division II East Region Tournament held in Springfield, Illinois.

The Wildcats had accomplished much just being picked as one of 15 teams at this regional on May 1.

NMU finished in 13th place with 961, 32 strokes behind the final national NCAA Championships qualifier, sixth-place finisher Missouri-St. Louis.

The Wildcats finished at 97-over-par following their best day of 25-over 313 on Wednesday. Each team had five golfers compete with the top four included in team scores each day.

NMU stayed in the hunt early, posting 319 in Monday’s opening round, which tied the Wildcats for eighth place and was just two strokes out of the final qualifying spot at that point.

Things got away from Northern in Tuesday’s middle round after NMU shot the day’s highest round of 329 and left them 29 strokes out of qualification.

The event was held at the Panther Creek Country Club, a par-72 course with yardages ranging each day between 6,114 and 6,137 yards.

Maya Hunter led the Wildcats in Springfield, finishing with a 54-hole score of 11-over-par 227, tied for the third lowest three-day total in NMU history and leaving her tied for 24th at the event.

Hunter’s total included a 6-over 78 on the final day when she had 10 pars and a birdie. Her overall finish included a 2.92-stroke average on par-3s, 1-under par in all on those holes, which also tied her for second-best in the field on par-3s. In addition, her eight birdies ranked her in a tie for 10th in the field.

Abigail Boozer had Wednesday’s lowest round among NMU golfers with a 2-over 74 with 14 pars and a birdie. Her three-day score of 244 tied her for 58th in the field and moves her into the top 10 in NMU history.

The Wildcats’ next best shooter was Paxton Johnson with 248 and 68th in the field, which included a final-round 80 with eight pars and a birdie.

Teammate Hailey Bolander was next with 81 Wednesday, including 10 pars, and 249 overall to tie for 69th, while Annie Pietila finished with 85 including eight pars and 258 overall for 79th place.

As a team, NMU played the par-3s in a 3.28 average, par-4s in 4.67 and par-5s in 5.48, making 124 pars and 18 birdies.

On Tuesday, Hunter and Pietila earned GLIAC postseason honors.

Hunter was named to the All-GLIAC Second Team after her score at the GLIAC Championships moved her into a tie for third place in NMU history for 36-hole scores after she shot 146 that included a 72 that put her fifth for a single round in program history.

Hunter was Northern’s top shooter a half-dozen times this past season, including each of their last three regular-season events, along with being the team’s pacesetter at the conference tourney.

Pietila earned All-GLIAC Honorable Mention, highlighted by leading the Wildcats to victory at the Champions for Women’s Golf Classic in Columbus, Ohio, after shooting 72-81–153, the opening round and two-round score also in NMU’s all-time top 10.

Pietila also had 24 pars at the GLIAC Championship, third best in the entire field.

Back at the NCAA regional, two current and two former GLIAC members were among the half-dozen NCAA Championships qualifiers — former member Findlay won the event with a 2-under-par 862 (284-294-284), with current conference member Grand Valley State third with 30-over 894 (299-298-297).

Another current GLIAC school, Wayne State, was fourth with a 38-over 902 (293-301-308), while former league member Tiffin was fifth with 46-over 910 (310-297-303).

Also qualifying was regional runner-up Indianapolis with 286-297-292–875 (11-over) and sixth-place Missouri-St. Louis with 317-302-310–929 (65-over).

The first team to miss the cut was current GLIAC member Ferris State in seventh at 70-over 934 (319-309-306).

Also from the GLIAC, Saginaw Valley State tied former GLIAC school Walsh for ninth with 943, former conference member Ohio Dominican was 11th with 951, and former GLIAC member Gannon was 15th with 967.

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