Toole Claims School's First Individual National Golf Title
Bruin Notes
George Fox has been a contender at the NCAA Division III Women’s Golf Championships for years, but until this spring the program had yet to claim a team or individual national title.
That all changed in mid-May, when Makensie Toole, a freshman from Australia, earned individual national champion honors at this year’s tournament, contested at the Forest Akers West Golf Course in East Lansing, Michigan. Toole led the field of 131 players from wire-to-wire, shooting a four-day total of 291 to finish three over par and a whopping 14 strokes ahead of the runner-up. Her accomplishment helped the Bruins finish third overall as a team.
“I am just so proud of this team,” coach Mary Jo McCloskey said. “After all the challenges and restrictions that came with COVID, to come here and compete like we did is incredible. And I’m so thrilled for Makensie as well – our first national champion.”
Toole’s individual title is the first for an NCAA George Fox athlete outside of track and field. Her play landed her on both the Women’s Golf Coaches Association’s All-West Region and All-American teams. Joining her on the All-American First Team was teammate Alison Takimiya, marking the first time two Bruins achieved that honor in the same season.
Previously, the pair helped George Fox win a Northwest Conference title by 83 strokes – their 11th straight league championship.
