UW-Oshkosh junior Markka Farrington shot a final-round 79 to finish seventh at NCAA Division III Women's Golf Championship held May 15-18 at the Hickory Point Golf Course in Forsyth, Ill.

Farrington, the first UW-Oshkosh athlete to ever compete at the event, carded a 72-hole score of 306 (18 over par) en route to her seventh-place finish. In addition to her final round score, the West Bend native totaled 75 strokes in the first round, 78 in the second and 74 in the third.

Carol Brogan and Melanie Tipps, both of Methodist College (N.C.), finished one-two in the individual competition with totals of 294 and 297, respectively. Finishing third was Emily Burch of Rhodes College (Tenn.) with a score of 302.

Methodist College won the championship in the 10-team field, placing 50 strokes ahead of second-place Concordia College (Minn.). The Monarchs claimed the title with a score of 1,214.

The National Golf Coaches Association (NCGA) also announced its 2001 NCAA Division III All-America team at the event, with Farrington receiving honorable mention recognition. There were five first team selections, five second team honorees and five honorable mention picks on the 2001 NCAA Division III All-America women's golf squad.

UW-Oshkosh will be represented at the NCAA Division III Women's Golf Championship for the first time in school history following the selection of junior Markka Farrington. The 72-hole event will be held May 15-18 at the Hickory Point Golf Course in Forsyth, Ill.

Hosted by Millikin University (Ill.), the 2001 NCAA Division III Women's Golf Championship will consist of both team and individual competition. Joining Farrington as one of 10 individual qualifiers are Monica Blank of McMurry University (Texas), Stacey Chapman of Albion College (Mich.), Deb Garriott of DePauw University (Ill.), Meghan Glass of Mount Union College (Ohio), Missy Hazelwood of Carthage College, Christy Huegerich of UW-Whitewater, Kristin Paulson of the University of St. Thomas (Minn.), Lacey Wicksall of Hope College (Mich.) and Debbie Zorn of Buena Vista University (Iowa).

Competing for the team championship will be Baldwin-Wallace College (Ohio), Concordia College (Minn.), Franklin College (Ind.), Hardin-Simmons University (Texas), Mary Hardin-Baylor University (Texas), defending champion Methodist College (N.C.), Millikin University, Rhodes College (Tenn.), Simpson College (Iowa) and UW-Eau Claire. Each participant on the 10 teams will be allowed to compete for individual honors.

Farrington competes at the NCAA Division III Championship as the reigning WIAC champion, having won the league title last October in Janesville. Her effort helped the Titans to their first-ever WIAC championship. Last month (April 14), the West Bend native shot a 79 at the Millikin University Invitational held at the Hickory Point Golf Course, the site of the upcoming national championship.

Led by medalist Markka Farrington, UW-Oshkosh won the WIAC Women's Golf Championship held Oct. 9-10 at the Riverside Golf Course in Janesville. The Titans scored 344 strokes on the second day of competition for a two-day total of 684, while second-place UW-Eau Claire had a 343 on the second day and a tournament score of 689. UW-Whitewater finished third at 707 and UW-Stevens Point fourth at 727.

With UW-Oshkosh winning its first WIAC golf title, all four team participants at the 2000 event have now managed to win a league championship in the five-year history of the event. UW-Whitewater won it in 1996 and 1999, UW-Stevens Point in 1997 and UW-Eau Claire in 1998. Previously, UW-Oshkosh finished second in 1998, third in 1996 and 1997 and fourth in 1999.

UW-Oshkosh was led in its performance by Farrington who took top individual honors after carding a 36-hole score of 154. UW-Eau Claire's Kristi Moss was second with a score of 164, while UW-Whitewater's Lisa Irons was third at 168, UW-Oshkosh's Jamie McAlister was fourth at 170 and UW-Eau Claire's Kelly Harper fifth at 172

Rounding out UW-Oshkosh's finishes at the WIAC Championship were 10th-place Carrie Detjen (179), 12th-place Amy Simon (181), 15th-place Stephani Marie Mraz (183), 21st-place Cindy Treadwell (190), 23rd-place Malinda Handlen (196) and 28th-place Kristin Huth (201).

UW-Oshkosh also claimed two other league awards at the event as Kris Schoonover was named WIAC Coach of the Year and Malinda Handlen WIAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year.