Valparaiso's Winters and YSU's Merling Named Golfers of the Week

Indianapolis – Valparaiso senior Eric Winters (Elgin, Ill.) and Youngstown State senior Aislynn Merling (York, Pa.) have been named the Horizon League Golfers of the Week for the period of Oct. 1-7.

Winters finished in a tie for seventh place out of 92 golfers at the Firestone Invitational. He opened the tournament with a 73 and 71 in the first two rounds played on Monday. He rounded out the tournament with a final round 73 to finish with a three-round score of 217.

Merling finished second out of 54 golfers at the Butler Fall Invitational after losing on the first hole of a playoff. She fired an opening round 73 and an identical final round score of 73 to finish in a tie for first to force a playoff with Butler’s Jenna Peters.

Other Top Golfers (Oct. 1-7):
Michael Balcar, Cleveland State – Balcar fired identical rounds of 72 to finish in a tie for eighth place at the UC Bearcat Invitational.
Evan Bowser, Oakland – Bowser finished in a tie for eighth at the UC Bearcat Invitational.
Ryann Gilley, UIC – Gilley shot her career-low round with a 74 to finish in fourth place out of 38 golfers at the Cougar Golf Classic.
Allyson Hackman, Cleveland State – Hackman finished in a tie for fifth place, two shots behind the winner, at the Butler Fall Invitational.
Gene Kiela, Green Bay – Kiela shot a final round 70 to finish in a tie for sixth out of 69 golfers at the John Dallio Memorial.
Elle Nichols, Oakland – Nichols finished in a tie for 26th out of 75 golfers at the Diane Thompson Invitational.
Brandon Pluchinsky, Youngstown State – Pluchinsky fired a final round 72 to finish in 32nd place at the UC Bearcat Invitational.
Nick Scott, Wright State – Scott finished in a tie for 13th at the UC Bearcat Invitational.
Avery Steen, Green Bay – Steen finished in a tie for eighth out of 38 golfers at the Cougar Golf Classic.

Golfers of the Week:
Sept. 11: Bill Gaffney, Youngstown State, Nick Seitz, Valparaiso; Kelsey Jensen, UIC
Sept. 25: Nick Scott, Wright State & Allison Mitzel, Youngstown State
Oct. 1: Nick Scott, Wright State & Elle Nichols, Oakland
Oct. 8: Eric Winters, Valparaiso & Aislynn Merling, Youngstown State