Little Rock won the Ohio Valley Conference Women’s Golf Championship on Apr. 21, finishing with a score of +52 (875) and securing a 19-shot victory over Morehead State at Dalton Golf and Country Club.
The win highlights Little Rock’s consistent performance throughout the tournament, as they led from start to finish and placed four golfers inside the top eight. This achievement reflects both team depth and individual excellence in collegiate women’s golf.
Head coach Jenna Birch said, “This group showed what they’ve been capable of all season. They stayed patient, trusted the process and didn’t let anything speed them up. To go wire-to-wire in a championship says a lot about their mindset.” Junior Eleonore Aernouts led Little Rock by claiming medalist honors at +6 after shooting an even-par final round of 72. “I’m really proud of how we competed this week,” Aernouts said. “We stayed patient and trusted what we’ve been working on all season. To see it all come together at the conference championship means a lot, especially doing it with this group.” She added, “We knew if we stayed disciplined and played our game, we’d be in a good position. Everyone contributed, and that’s what made this win so special.” Birch described Aernouts as “our rock,” adding that her consistency sets her apart.
Iara Martin finished second individually after shooting one-under-par (71) in the final round for an overall score of +11. Birch said Martin was outstanding during Tuesday’s play: “To go under par in the final round of a championship and push herself up the leaderboard like that is huge.” Cloe Poizac finished third (+16), while Fehild Graesel tied for eighth (+19). Elvira Flodstrom rounded out Little Rock’s scoring group with a 16th-place finish (+27).
Birch commented on team depth: “It just speaks to our depth. When you have multiple players in contention like that, it creates a lot of confidence across the lineup.” The Trojans maintained their lead throughout each round without allowing competitors to close the gap.
Postseason honors included Aernouts being named OVC Player of the Year; Iara Martin and Cloe Poizac joined her on the OVC All-Tournament Team; Morgan Kennedy (Morehead State) was named OVC Freshman of the Year; Birch received Bobby Nichols OVC Coach of the Year recognition.
With this victory comes an automatic bid to NCAA Regionals for Little Rock as they aim to continue their success at national level competition.
