MUSCLE SHOALS, Ala. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Golf concluded the 2024-25 season with a seventh place finish among nine teams at the 54-hole Ohio Valley Conference Championship in Muscle Shoals, Alabama.
The young Screaming Eagles squad improved their placement from the 2024 squad who finished in eighth. USI finished with a team score of 1,008 (330, 336, 342), ahead of Easten Illinois University and Tennessee State University.
The trio of freshman Zhana Navato (249), freshman Brianna Kirsch (250) and senior Baileigh Schneider (251), led the Eagles with similar tournaments finishing 25th, 26th, and 27th.
Morehead State University were crowned OVC champions with an impressive score of 900 (291, 297, 312). The following eight schools were University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Tennessee Tech University, Lindenwood University, Western Illinois University, Bryant University, USI, Eastern Illinois, and Tennessee State.
Round 1
The Eagles shot their best score in round one with a 330. Sophomore Alexis Wymer and Schneider were the lone Eagles who had competed in the high stakes event before. Schneider delivered a veteran performance in round one, scoring her lowest 18 of the spring with a 79 (+7). The score also marked her best round in her three years of competing at the OVC Championships.
Newly awarded All-OVC Newcomer, Kirsch, turned in a strong start to her championships career with an 82. Navato followed behind with an 83, while freshman Fernanda Vera rounded out the scoring with an 86. USI finished day one in eighth place, right behind EIU and Bryant.
Round 2
The Eagles jumped into seventh place after day two with a team score of 336. However, Kirsch was the lone Eagle who improved on the second day with an 81. The freshman jumped into 25th overall with a chance to slide into the top 20.
Navato continued to supply USI with consistency, posting an 83. The freshman avoided disastrous holes and executed six pars and one birdie. Schneider posted an 84, while freshman Jade Blakeley subbed into the tournament and scored an 88.
Round 3
USI concluded the tournament in seventh place as the entire field struggled on the final day. The Eagles scored a 342, seven strokes behind Bryant in sixth place and four ahead of Eastern Illinois.
Navato jumped two spots into 25th with another 83, earning the best USI score of 249. Kirsch and Schneider finished directly behind Navato in the rankings. Kirsch totaled a 250 (82, 81, 87), while Schneider finished her career with a 251 (79, 84, 88).
Vera battled on the final day as one of the few competitors in the field with her top score in the final round at 84. The four USI freshmen competing this week gained valuable experience contributing valiant performances and will return for years to come with added confidence and motivation.
Schneider concludes her career at USI with her lowest total score at the championships with a 251. The senior excelled as a leader for an extremely young 2024-25 squad. The USI community congratulates Baileigh on a fantastic career.
