The Grand Valley State women’s golf team stepped up a division and still managed to top most of the field at the University of Dayton Fall Invitational. The Lakers finished tied for first at a tournament featuring mostly Division I squads.

GVSU and the University of Indianapolis each finished the second and final round with a score of 610 (+50). The tiebreaker came down to the total score of the fifth player of both teams, in which the University of Indianapolis had an eight-stroke advantage.

The Lakers have been playing their best golf of the year and showed it against tough Division I competition.

To the surprise of few, senior Gabrielle Shipley again led the way for the Lakers. Shipley finished the tournament tied for second, firing 72-75 (147, +7) over two rounds. Shipley has four top-five finishes in her last four tournaments. The senior overcame scrambling throughout the second round to keep a low score.

“The first day I put myself in better position from fairway to green,” Shipley said. “My ball striking wasn’t as good the second round which put pressure on my putter.”

Sophomore Samantha Moss posted GVSU’s next-best score with a 151 (+11), her best tournament score of the fall season, as she finished in seventh place. On the first day, Moss had all parts of her game working to earn a score of 74.

“I had a lot of fun out there,” Moss said. “It was really cool to be able to have everything piece together in the same round.”

Junior Alex Taylor finished third for the Lakers. Taylor carded a 154 (+14), tying for ninth in the tournament.

Freshman Alex Amos finished tied in 47^th place with a 165 (+25), thanks to a nine-stroke improvement from the first to second round.

Junior Danielle Crilley, rounded out the team score for GVSU, finishing one stroke behind Amos with a 166 (+26).

Junior Julie Guckian competed individually for the Lakers, posting a score of 162 (+22). Guckian finished tied for 33^rd place.

GVSU’s consistent lineup has fueled the team all year. Six different players have placed in the top 10 in tournaments throughout the year. If one player had an off day, another player was always there to pick their teammate up and post a low score.

“It’s nice knowing that any one of our players can be that person that steps up,” said GVSU head coach Rebecca Mailloux. “It takes a little pressure off of everyone knowing that anyone can step up to the plate if you are having an off day.”

Although GVSU’s two-tournament outright winning streak came to an end, the team has placed within the top two spots in four straight tournaments. GVSU will look to close out the last tournament of the fall season with a win next week at the Davenport Invitational. The two-day tournament will take place at a pair of Grand Rapids country clubs. The tournament begins on Oct. 25 at Boulder Creek Golf Club and concludes at Blythefield Country Club on Oct. 26.