Big Rapids, MI - It wasn't without some interference from Mother Nature. Still, the McKendree University Women's Golf team rose above a field of nine other teams to win The Bulldog Classic earlier this week, hosted by Ferris State at Katke Golf Club in Big Rapids, Michigan.

The Bearcats were nearly middle of the pack after the first day of competition with a team score of +29, but a sharp seven-stroke improvement to +22 in round two suddenly had them in contention for the team title. A +24 on Tuesday was the third-best team score, but some score decreases elsewhere, coupled with the round two score for McKendree, were just what coach Mikal Guffey's squad needed to take home first place.

It was an extremely crowded team leaderboard, with first through fourth place separated by just six strokes. Individually, the entire scoring lineup for the Bearcats placed inside the Top 20, and three were inside the Top 10.

Chiara Bortolotti del Reino led the way with a +13/229, finishing the event with four birdies. Alba Camps Pascual and Waritsara Rungrojanaluk were both right behind her with identical +19/235 scorecards.

Camps finished with seven birdies, including five on her second round Monday.

Rungrojanaluk had three birdies, two of which also came in the second Monday round.

Cale Albertina finished tied for 16th, had six birdies, and saw her best stretch of golf when she totaled three birdies on the front nine of her second round on Monday.

Rachawadee Srimaung (T-34th, 2 birdies, +36/252) and Reagan Potts (53rd, +62/278) made up the group that had made the trip east to Michigan.

The Bearcats are next in action September 26th-28th at the Gilda's Club Laker Fall Invitational at The Meadows in Allendale, Michigan, an event hosted by Grand Valley State, a team that has made 10 consecutive NCAA Division II Women's Golf Championship appearances.