Chaney 4-under as Stars battle second team at Rose Creek

EDMOND, Okla. – Oklahoma City University occupied nine of the top 10 spots atop the individual leaderboard through two rounds of the Rose Creek Classic on Monday at Rose Creek Golf Club.

OCU, ranked fourth in NAIA women’s golf, and the Stars’ Blue team held the top two slots in the team standings. Reagan Chaney of the Stars paced the field.

The Stars forged a 286-288—574 on the par-72, 6,013-yard course. OCU’s Blue team trailed by 14 shots with a 292-296—588. OCU returned to the course which hosted the NAIA Championships in May, when the Stars finished fourth place.

Chaney, a freshman from Ardmore, Okla., posted a 6-under-par 70-68—138 for a four-stroke lead in the tournament. Chaney sank 10 birdies Monday and nailed seven during her second round. During her second 18 holes, Chaney buried three consecutive birdies on holes 4, 5 and 6 and two more in a row on Nos. 10 and 11.

OCU’s top three individuals produced under-par scores. Natalie Gough turned in a 2-under-par 70-72—142. Gough, a senior from Bixby, Okla., made seven birdies over the 36 holes including five during the early round.

Jamie Welsh and Paige Wood tied for fifth place. Welsh, a freshman from Coppell, Texas, carded a 71-76—147 with four birdies. Wood, a freshman from McKinney, Texas, compiled a 75-72—147 with four birdies. Wood drained the only eagle among the field on the par-4, 316-yard 11th hole.

The Stars’ Meghan Charles, a freshman from Sand Springs, Okla., had a 76-80—156, knocking in three birdies.

Lauren Behnken led the Stars’ Blue team with a 72-71—143. Behnken, a senior from Tulsa, Okla., sank six birdies. Maddi Kamas, a freshman from Kingfisher, Okla., supplied a 71-73—144 with eight birdies.

Rachel Eckert, a senior from Bixby, Okla., shot a 74-73—147 with five birdies, while Morgan Palermo, a freshman from Parker, Colo., added a 75-79—154 with six birdies.

The tournament ends Tuesday, when the last round tees off 8:30 a.m. at Rose Creek.