PHOENIX, Ariz. -- Bolstered by a quartet of top-10 individual finishes, the Montana Tech women's golf team rolled to a runner-up finish at the Frontier Conference/California Pacific Conference NAIA Qualifier tournament at Papago Golf Club. 

Tech shot the tournament's low team round for the second-straight day, carding a four-player score of 322 to cut champion Rocky Mountain's lead to 11 strokes in the three-day, 54-hole tournament. 

"The women finished the tournament really well," head coach Sean Ryan said. "They got better each day and round. Obviously we came up 11 strokes short, but it's the closest we've ever been to winning a team title in the conference tournament." 

The highlight of the day came on Hole 11 from senior Franchi Ceartin, who hit a perfect 6-iron onto the par-3's green. It hopped twice and rolled into the cup for her first-career hole-in-one and her second eagle of the tournament. Ceartin finished at 10-over-par 82, her best round of the week. 

"The moment of the day was Franchi's ace in her final collegiate round," Ryan said. "That was something that was spectacular to witness, and I'm so glad I was there to see it happen." 

Junior Emma Woods was the low Oredigger on the day, shooting 5-over 77 to move into a tie for third at 85-80-77—242. That tied her with fellow junior Kodie Hoagland, who also carded her lowest round of the tournament at 79. She totaled up at 81-82-79—242. Both earned spots on the all-tournament team with their top-five finishes. 

Freshman Casha Corder (83-82-84—249, 8th) and Ceartin (83-87-82—252, t-10th) also checked into the top 10. Senior Samantha Benson (82-84-88—254) tied for 12th.  

"I'm just very proud of this group and know they are going to achieve great things in the next few years," Ryan said. "I especially want to thank our seniors, Sami and Franchi, for a great four years and setting a new standard for Montana Tech golf. I also want to thank the parents and all the supporters who came by Papago and got to witness some great golf played by even more exceptional young people." 

Montana Tech's women finish the season with the best conference-tournament result in program history at 979 strokes over the three rounds. 

Rocky Mountain won the tournament and earned its automatic bid to the NAIA national tournament. In order to receive the automatic berth, the Frontier and Cal Pac conferences cooperated to meet the minimum number of six participating teams. 

RMC's Grace Metcalf won individual medalist honors with a three-round score of 18-over-par 234.

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