Final Results

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REDFORD, Mich. -- Senior Alainna Stefan (Dearborn, MI/Mercy) posted a tournament-best two-over 74 as she wiped out an eight-stroke deficit to win medalist honors in a sudden death playoff on her birthday as the Detroit Titans Invitational came to a close on Tuesday as the Western Golf & Country Club. 

“I just tried to block out all the spectators and focus on my game,” said Stefan. “I did not really hit that great of a drive and I thought my second shot was very important. Whenever you win a title, you always want to win it again the next year.”

As a team, the Titans finished in second, just six strokes behind Oakland, with a 989 (339-327-323), including the best team round in the 54-hole event with a 323 on the final 18. The red, white and blue trailed the Golden Grizzlies by 15 shots after round one and 14 after the first 36, but made a strong charge on the day to get within six.

The individual title came down to Stefan and Oakland's Mara Kovac, who led the field by five strokes after totaling a 238 (79-77) in the first two rounds, but the Titan came on strong in the final 18 with three birdies and 12 pars to finish with a 238 (83-81-74). The playoff began at the par 4, hole No. 10, and both golfers needed to chip their third shot as they were off the green, but Kovac's sailed a bit long, while Stefan put one within 25 feet of the pin. She would then sink the put to for her third title of the season and the sixth of her career.

Stefan, who won two-round Titan Invitational last spring with a 154, began the day eight strokes in back of Kovac after carding a 164 (83-81) on Monday.

Five other Titans placed in the top 10, with sophomore Lindsey Lammers (Milan, MI/Milan) taking fourth with a 241 (82-79-80). Lammers also tied for the tournament lead with six birdies and was among the leaders with 23 pars.

Freshman Christina Thorne (Kingston, ON/Bayridge) carded a 250 (82-83-85) to tie for seventh playing as an individual, while senior Marni Achterhoff (Muskegon, MI/Mona Shores) (87-83-85) and junior Liz Zouzal (Windsor, ON/Holy Names) (87-84-84) shared 10th place after totaling a 255.

Detroit topped the competition in both par 3 (3.51) and par 4 (4.60) scoring, while leading the field with 15 birdies in securing its fifth top-five finish of the season.

The Titans will have one more tournament to get ready for the Horizon League Championship as UDM makes the short trip to Bowling Green, Ohio, to play in the Falcon Invitational on Saturday. The 36-hole event will start on Saturday and end on Sunday at the Stone Ridge Golf Club.