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RIO VERDE, Arizona. – The Ohio women’s golf team took off to the desert for the Rio Verde Invitational, hosted by Western Michigan, February 21-23 at the Rio Verde Country Club. The Bobcats finished 10th with an overall score of 907 (+43), with senior Sydney Longstreth (Carmel, Ind.) leading the Bobcats with a tie for 15th. 

California Baptist captured the tournament title, followed by Illinois State (+1), Xavier (+5) in third, Kennesaw State (+20) in fourth, and Ball State (+30) in 5th. 

As a team, Ohio kicked off the first round on Friday with a score of 296, followed by a 312 in the second round and concluded the tournament on Sunday with a score of 299.

Individually, Longstreth was the standout performer for the Bobcats, posting scores of 72 and 74 in the first two rounds, and finishing Sunday with a 75 for a total score of 221 (+5), which earned her a tie for 15th out of 103 competitors.

Sophomore Zoe Luebbers (Cincinnati, Ohio) and sophomore Morgan Rodgers (Centerville, Ohio), both finished tied for 52nd with a total score of 229. Luebbers started the tournament with a 75 in round one, finishing with 77 and 77, meanwhile Rodgers shot rounds of 73, 82 and 74, leaving both athletes at 15 over par. 

Junior Mackenzie McRee (Tucson, Arizona), was next, finishing tied for 63rd. McRee opened the tournament with scores of 74 and 84, and closed out with a score of 73 for a total of 231 (+15). 

freshman Saylor Wharff (Marietta, Ohio) finished tied for 97th overall, opening the tournament with an 84, followed by a 81 in the second round and an 79 in the final round for a total of 244 (+28).

The Bobcats will return to competition on March 10-11 at the 2025 Butler Spring Invitational. This two-day event will be hosted by Butlet University at the Ardea Country Club in Oldsmar, Fla.

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