Valparaiso's Webb and YSU's Merling Named Golfers of the Week

Indianapolis – Valparaiso sophomore Peter Webb (Madison, Wis.) and Youngstown State senior Aislynn Merling (York, Pa.) have been named the Horizon League Golfers of the Week for the opening of the Spring golf schedule.

Webb opened the Spring by leading the Crusaders at the Bash at the Beach Collegiate Invitational in Myrtle Beach, S.C. The sophomore topped the Valpo individual performances with a three-round score of 211, which was two-under-par. Webb shot a final round score of 70 and finished in a tie for 10th place.

Merling and her YSU teammates have been the busiest team in the Horizon League in the Spring as the Penguins have already played in three tournaments. After opening the Spring at the Lady Bulldog Individual Championship, Merling shared medalist honors with two other golfers at the Delta Gamma Challenge hosted by Texas State. The senior opened the Challenge with an even-par 71 to stand in seventh place, but fired a two-under par 69 to move up the leaderboard into a tie. She claimed co-medalist honors when the final round was cancelled due to high winds.

On Thursday, Merling helped the Penguins rally to win the Bulldog Florida Invitational. YSU entered the final round facing a four-shot deficit but rallied to win by one-shot. Merling led the charge by improving on her first round score by eight shots as she finished in second place at the competition with a two-day total of 156.

Other Top Golfers (Spring Season Through March 12):
Alyssa Albright, Oakland – Albright led the Golden Grizzlies in their two opening tournaments of the Spring in Arizona. She shot a three-round score of 231 to finish in a tie for 26th out of 118 golfers at the GCU Invitational to open the year. She followed up that performance with a two-round score of 155 to finish in a tie for 43rd out of 129 players at the Red Rocks Invitational. 
Evan Bowser, Oakland – Bowser shot even par in the final two rounds of the Colleton River Collegiate to finish in a tie for 26th place with a three-round score of 227.
Sibil Gill,  Valparaiso – Gill shot a season-best 36-hole score of 158 to end the Bulldog Florida Invitational in a tie for fourth place. She led the Crusaders with a ninth place finish at the Benbow Invitational to open the Spring.
Allyson Hackman, Cleveland State – Hackman took home medalists honors at the Benbow Invitational, winning on the first playoff hole, after scoring a two-round score of 155.
Sophie Kelner, Cleveland State – Kelner tied her teammate Hackman at the Benbow Invitational with a two-day total of 155, before falling to Hackman in the first playoff hole to finish in second place.
Patrick Luth, Cleveland State – Luth shot a 73-75—148 to finish in third place, three shots behind the winner, at the Don Benbow Invitational played at the Jacksonville Beach Golf Course.
Sarah Thompson, Detroit – Thompson was the Titans top golfer at the spring opener. She finished in a tie for 26th out of 78 golfers at the Seminole State Spring Break.
Wil Witmann, Detroit – Witmann improved his score even round as he carded a 75-74-73—223 at the Colleton River Collegiate to finish in 17th out of 84 golfers.

Golfers of the Week:
Sept. 11: Bill Gaffney, Youngstown State, Nick Seitz, Valparaiso; Kelsey Jensen, UIC
Sept. 25: Nick Scott, Wright State & Allison Mitzel, Youngstown State
Oct. 1: Nick Scott, Wright State & Elle Nichols, Oakland
Oct. 8: Eric Winters, Valparaiso & Aislynn Merling, Youngstown State
Oct. 23: Brandon Pluchinsky, Youngstown State & Elle Nichols, Oakland
March 13: Peter Webb, Valparaiso & Aislynn Merling, Youngstown State