Area college: Malone golfer Christina Williams heading to NCAA Division II Championships

Christina Williams hopes to blaze a trail for future Malone University women's golfers.

Williams became the first Malone women's golfer to qualify for the NCAA Division II National Championships this week in Kansas City, Missouri, The graduate student finished tied for sixth in the East Regional at Shoal Creek Golf Course.

As the top remaining individual not on one of the five qualifying teams, Williams advances to next week's national tournament in Gainesville, Ga. She will compete in the stroke play portion as an individual.

Williams shot 73 in the final round of the regional for a 54-hole score of 221. She was just one of two individuals to advance out of the regional.

Smith medalist at OAC championships

A fast start helped lift Ian Smith to the biggest win of his Mount Union career.

Smith shared medalist honors at this year's Ohio Athletic Conference Men's Golf Championships in West Lafayette. His four-round total of 290 helped him become the Purple Raiders' first medalist since 2015 and the sixth in program history.

Smith shot rounds of 68, 71, 79, 72. His 72 in the final round was enough to tie John Carroll's John Roder for first place. Roder fired 69 in the final round.

Mount Union shot 1,248 as a team and finished seventh. John Carroll won the tournament with a 1,186.

Rock named G-MAC player of the year

Walsh catcher Jessie Rock is the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Softball Player of the Year.

Rock hit .389 with nine home runs overall and .432 with seven homers in conference play. She is the Cavaliers' career home runs leader with 36.

Rock is a first team selection on this year's All-G-MAC team. Walsh first baseman Emma Bobey and Malone second baseman Lauren Bennett are on the third team.

Conference athletes of the week

G-MAC

Ndidiamaka Anaraodo

Walsh, senior

Women's Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week

• Won the hammer throw and shot put at the Walsh Tune-Up.

• Throws of 54.44 meters in the hammer and 15.65 meters in the shot are NCAA Division II provisional standards.

• Winning shot throw ranks third in the nation.

OAC

Dwayne Sumier

Mount Union, senior

Baseball Pitcher of the Week

• Struck out a career-high 14 while allowing just one run and two hits over 7.1 innings in a 12-1 win over Capital.

Reach Mike at mike.popovich@cantonrep.com

On Twitter: @mpopovichREP