Interview with
Ella Ofstedahl
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Ella Ofstedahl shot a 3-under-par 69, the lowest round of the tournament, to win medalist honors at the Sun Belt Championship Wednesday at the LPGA International Hills Course.
The junior sank a 15-foot downhill putt for birdie on 17 and made par at 18 to get into the house at 3-under for the tournament. She had to wait for South Alabama's Siti Shaari, who was in the last group of the day, to finish.
After making par at 16 and 17, Shaari's approach on 18 went right and landed just off the green. She chipped to within three feet of the hole but saw her par putt lip out, giving Ofstedahl the one-stroke victory. Ofstedahl is the first Sun Belt Conference champion in the history of the women's golf program, which completed its fourth season.
The Eagles finished third in the team standings for the second straight year, and by finishing ahead of Georgia State, GS picks up a point in the Southern vs. State Rivalry Series, which State leads 11-5. The Eagles were five strokes behind winner South Alabama and two behind Texas State.
Ofstedahl capped the front nine with birdies at 8 and 9 and added a birdie at 13 to get to 3-under. She missed a 10-foot par putt to bogey 15 after her approach landed short of the green but birdied 17 to get back to 3-under for the tournament.
Natalie Petersen shot a 73 today, her best round of the week, and played her final 10 holes 1-under with a birdie at 18.
Julianna Collett shot 1-under on her final 10 holes of the day with birdies at 9, 10 and 14, and
Ansley Bowman birdied 15 and 18 to shoot 2-under in her final six holes.
Scores
Ella Ofstedahl – 73-71-69=213 (-3), 1
Ansley Bowman – 71-74-76=221 (+5), T7
Julianna Collett – 70-78-75=223 (+7), T14
Sarah Noonan – 77-76-83=236 (+20), T42
Natalie Petersen – 86-77-73=236 (+20), T42
Team – 291-298-293=882 (+18), 3
2019 All-Tournament Team
Maria Jose Atristain Vega, Arkansas State
Anne-Charlotte Mora, Texas State
Carolina Berge, South Alabama
Siti Shaari, South Alabama
Ella Ofstedahl, Georgia Southern*
Jenjira Jinangkul, Coastal Carolina
*Medalist
