The Grand Valley State women’s golf team won the JBMF Cavalier Classic in Canton, Ohio with an overall score of 608. 

The Lakers shot 309 on day one Monday, April 10, good enough to put them second going into the second round, then proceeded to blow the competition away with a 299 on day two Tuesday, April 11. Co-second place finishers Northern Michigan and Ashland each ended up 14 strokes behind the Lakers.

“Over the last couple weeks I think we’ve been trending in the right direction. The biggest thing today was everyone played well on the same day,” said head coach Rebecca Mailloux. “They’re getting a bit more confident now that we’re getting more golf in. Some steady practice and having played a lot of golf has helped us.”

Senior Julie Guckian led the way for GVSU, shooting a combined one-over-145 (73, 72) and finishing first overall and four strokes ahead of second place. It marked her first career collegiate victory. Junior Samantha Moss finished tied for sixth with a score of eight-over-152 (77, 755). Senior Alex Taylor, sophomore Mackenzie Blomberg and freshman Katie Chipman all tied for 12th place with scores of 157 and freshman Maria Sol Pose rounded the team out with a 162, good enough to place tied for 25th, after improving her score by 12 strokes on the second day.

“Everything today went pretty smoothly and yesterday too. I can’t really say I made a lot of mistakes and mistakes I did make were pretty minor,” Guckian said. “I used them as motivation to go into today and pull it off. A couple of missed putts and some shots that weren’t great, but nothing that hurt too bad. Had to take what you can get out there.”

This victory for GVSU marks its third first place finish on an event this season.

Going into the conference tournament, it is imperative that the Lakers continue their strong play in order to make a splash against the best of the GLIAC.

“We’ve got to keep practicing and hopefully the weather will cooperate. The key for us is to keep playing golf,” Mailloux said. “The course has just been so wet and getting good conditions over the next couple weeks will be good. Playing more and going day to day will be the key to getting them to continue on this trend.”

While playing and staying loose will always be a major key for any team looking to compete, Laker golfers feel that there is more that goes into it than just swinging clubs.

“I think it’s all about our attitude going in. I think knowing that we can shoot those scores and we can come out on top, even after a rough first day, it’s really cool to see that no one (quits),” Moss said. “We all came together to get the win. Knowing that, we’re confident and we know that those hours we put in will pay off.”

Postseason play begins on Friday, April 21, when the Lakers travel to Virtues Golf Club in Nashport, Ohio to compete in the three-day long GLIAC Championship.