Although this week's results were not quite what the Ball State University women's golf team wanted, it still capped off one of the best seasons in program history Tuesday.
The Cardinals finished eighth at the 54-hole Pat Bradley Invitational at the Pelican Preserve Golf Course in Fort Myers, Fla., on Tuesday to conclude the fall portion of their season.
"We didn't' play the best we could, but I thought we put together a pretty good tournament," Brittany Kelly said.
The Cardinals recorded a team score of 316 in the final round of the two-day invitational. The score was good enough to move Ball State up from 10th after two rounds to eighth in the final standings.
Ball State's third round score was higher than the first two rounds, in which they shot a 310 and a 307.
, but coach Katherine Mowat said the team played well in the final round as they battled strong winds and the cold.
"That was good," Mowat said. "It's always significant when we're able to move up."
Ball State finished 49 strokes behind Florida International University, which won the invitational.
Ball State's best performer in the invitational was Kelly, who finished seventh among the 70 individuals who competed. Her three round score of 224 was 12 strokes behind the leader.
Kelly recorded a 70 in her first round Monday, which was the second time she has shot under par in her time at Ball State.
"That's the best 54 hole round I've put together in my two years here," she said.
Rachael Pruett tied for 19th individually with a 231, and Kirsty O'Connor tied for 48th with a 239. Paige Esford, in her first 54-hole tournament of the season because of injuries that had limited her play, tied for 56th with a 243. KC Cain rounded out the Cardinals scoring as she finished 58th with a 244.
The great rounds the Cardinals have put together, the school records they have broke and their camaraderie made this fall the best season Ball State has ever had, Kelly said.
"I think this year is the most successful season we've had yet," she said. "The past two years have been awesome.
Last year we played a great season, but this year has been 10 times better."
Ball State began the fall season by finishing fourth out of 15 teams at the Nittany Lion Invitational. The Cardinals then won their Cardinal Classic, in which 13 teams participated. They also won the 15-team Hawkeye Invitational after finishing third at the Zippy Invitational.
The great season has the team motivated to work hard during the break before the spring season begins Feb. 22, to continue to prove what it is capable of, Mowat said.
"We're excited," she said. "We're very motivated and very confident in what we're able to do."
Kelly said the team - which is comprised of two freshmen, two sophomores, two juniors and a senior - will continue to impress when it continues its season in the spring.
"We're so young and such a successful team, we have so much ahead of us," she said.
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