LEXINGTON, Kentucky - After the top-seeded Findlay women's golf team controlled stroke play for 54 holes at the Great Midwest Women's Golf Championship, the Oilers claimed the title by winning the final medal match in a multi-level tie-breaker with Tiffin on Tuesday evening. 

As the UK Big Blue course dried and the sun raised the temperature on what was a very cold two days, Tiffin heated up. The Dragons, firmly in second place in the nine-team conference standings, played Findlay within five shots in the third round to set up a medal match showdown. UF and TU played to a tie, with Lisa Marie Schumacher making a clutch putt on 18 to force a 2-2-1 tie. The tournament then went into a tie-breaker.

Both teams shot a 385, counting all five players. But it was the even par 72 shot by Jill Schmitmeyer, the lowest individual score of the match play, that gave Findlay the edge and the trophy. Findlay will advance into the NCAA Women's Golf Regional as the Great Midwest automatic qualifier. 

"Obviously, the way it ended today was a little bittersweet. Both teams were very deserving," Findlay head coach Dom Guarnieri said. "These girls played great for 54 holes. Tiffin stepped up to the challenge and I can't give them enough credit. I feel like we will have really good representation in the national tournament."

Findlay, in six tournaments this spring, has not lost and it has had one of its players finish as medalist each time. That's an entire semester without losing to another team.

"Obviously, it's been great to win five tournaments and then have Kristina Kniesly cap it off by winning medalist here," Guarnieri said. "We're continuing to build and get ready for the regional."

The tie in match play wasn't the only drama of the day. At the end of the third round, Findlay's Gabby Woods and Kniesly battled for medalist honors. Woods sunk a putt for par on 17 to cut the lead to one shot but Kniesly held on to claim the individual honor.

2022 Women's Golf All-Great Midwest Honorees
T7. Erin Mulcahy, Findlay (+22)
T7. Jordan Van Meter, Tiffin (+22)
T7. Christina Williams, Malone (+22)
6. Madison Ardelean, Walsh (+21)
5. Amanda Johansson, Tiffin (+17)
4. Lisa Marie Schumacher, Tiffin (+16)
3. Mary Kelly Mulcahy, Findlay (+12)
2. Gabby Woods, Findlay (+5)
Medalist - Kristine Kniesly, Findlay (+4)

Elite 25 Winner: Lucille Petkac, Ursuline

Day 2 Notes

• The women's medal match was the opposite outcome of the men's golf championship over the weekend. Three days earlier on the men's side, Findlay won the 54-hole stroke play and then lost to Tiffin in match play. 
• The 44 scores in the third round (one player withdrew) were nearly identical to the scores in the second round. Great Midwest players averaged 86.98 on Tuesday, compared to exactly 87 during the second round on Monday.
• Findlay has won the Great Midwest championship in each of its four spring seasons as a member.
• Lucille Petkac of Ursuline College was the Elite 25 winner. She owns a 3.98 GPA at UC and is an integrated business major.