Bell, ORU shatter records in massive final-round rally
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The Oral Roberts women’s golf team nearly overcame an 18-stroke final-round deficit in finishing second by two strokes Wedensday in the Johnie Imes Invitational Wednesday in Columbia, Missouri.
After finishing round two in third place and 18 strokes behind Missouri, the Golden Eagles rallied with an 8-under 280, led by Sarah Bell’s school record final-round 7-under 65. to pull to within two strokes of the Tigers. The 280 is the second lowest round in ORU history.
Overall, ORU shot 3-over 867, the lowest 54-hole score in Golden Eagle history.
Bell finished second overall at 11-under 205 for her third top-five finish this fall. She broke two program records. Her 65 is the lowest individual round score in program history and her 205 overall score is the lowest individual three-round tournament score in program history. She had seven birdies, five on the front nine, on day three and no bogeys.
Kiana Oshiro finished tied for eighth after a 72 at 1-under 215. Cristina Riu had her low round at ORU with a 4-under 68 and tied for 11th at 219.
“The girls got off to a slow start Monday and got behind, but this is a high character team that never quit,” coach Lance Watson said. “As a coach that’s all I can ask for that they never quit trying. They played as hard as they could for the final 36 holes. I was very proud of their effort.”ORU will compete in the Ozarks National Invitational beginning Monday, Oct. 18 at Ozarks National Golf Club in Hollister, Missouri.
ORU Individual Results
2 Sarah Bell 70-70-65-205 -11
T8 Kiana Oshiro 73-70-72-215 -1
T11 Cristina Riu 79-72-68-219 +3
T44 Isabella Caamal 81-74-75-230 +14
T57 Katelyn Rika 79-79-75-233 +17
Team Results
1 Missouri 284-285-296-865 +1
2 Oral Roberts 301-286-280-867 +3
3 Mercer 297-296-276-869 +5
4 Arkansas State 302-288-299-889 +25
T5 Wichita State 298-287-306-891 +27
T5 Illinois State 303-287-301-891 +27
7 Northern Illinois 303-290-299-892 +28
8 Eastern Kentucky 307-303-283-893 +29
9 Missouri State 305-298-294-897 +33
10 Missouri (B) 305-300-297-902 +38
11 Bradley 311-300-293-904 +40
12 Little Rock 300-298-308-906 +42
13 South Dakota 309-302-305-916 +52
14 UAB 312-317-294-923 +59