College roundup: OC, OCU, UCO, NSU, RSU all in action

HORSESHOE BAY, Texas (April 1, 2014) – On pace most of the way to beat a trio of strong NCAA Division II women’s golf teams, Oklahoma Christian again struggled down the stretch and finished fifth in the Southwest Classic, which ended Tuesday at Horseshoe Bay Resort’s Apple Rock Golf Course.

The Lady Eagles played the tournament’s final three holes in a combined 15-over-par and posted a final-round score of 325, putting them at 640 for the tournament, 15 shots behind the team champion, No. 3-ranked Tarleton State (Texas).

No. 20 Midwestern State (Texas) was second at 637, while tournament host and No. 16 Dallas Baptist (Texas) tied with Newman (Kan.) – a squad one spot out of the top 25 in the most recent Division II coaches’ poll – for third in the nine-team field at 639.

Unranked OC had led most of the first round Monday before playing the final two holes in a combined 10-over on the par-72, 6,057-yard course.

OC freshman India Matthews just missed what would have been her first career tournament title, shooting an 80 to finish tied for second at 153, four shots behind the medalist, Sharon Lau of Tarleton State. Another OC freshman, Dana Todd, posted her first career top-10 finish, tying for eighth at 159 after shooting an 84.

But the most amazing streak in OC women’s golf history ended, as junior Anna Arrese Cortadellas tied for 23rd at 165 after shooting a 79. Arrese Cortadellas had finished in the top 10 in each of her first 23 college tournaments.

OCU women place sixth at Houston Baptist Husky Invite

MISSOURI CITY, Texas – Oklahoma City University fired a final-round 309 Tuesday and finished sixth in the Houston Baptist Husky Invitational at Riverbend Country Club.

The Stars, ranked No. 2 in NAIA women’s golf, recorded a final score of 326-319-309—954 on the par-72, 6,084-yard course and finished ahead of six NCAA Division I squads. OCU finished 39 shots behind tournament champion Lamar.

Elia Folch fired a third-round 73 to lead the Stars and finish fifth individually. The senior from Barcelona, Spain, turned in a final score of 77-78-73—228 and finished seven strokes behind Raegan Bremer of Houston.

Freshman Anna Mikish, of Choctaw, Okla., carded 85-79-76—240 and finished in a tie for 29th place. Fellow freshman Caroline Goodin, of Oklahoma City, tied for 32nd with a three-round score of 81-83-77—241.

Katie-Lee Wilson, a freshman from Owasso, turned in a score of 83-86-83—252, and Kailey Campbell, a freshman from Oktaha, shot 88-79-86—253 to round out the Stars top five.

Sophomore Abby Thompson, of Edmond, turned in a three-round score of 88-86-78—252 while playing as an individual.

Teams saw temperatures range from 70 to 82 degrees with light winds out of south on the day.

The Stars will return to action in the Kansas City Shootout on April 7-8 at Shoal Creek Golf Course in Kansas City, Mo.
 
As for OC’s other players, sophomore Audrey Meisch fired an 83 to finish tied for 20th in the 45-woman field at 164, while freshman Allison Sell’s 83 left her at 172, in 31st place.

UCO stays in third in Natural State Golf Classic

HEBER SPRINGS, Ark. (April 1) – Central Oklahoma knocked six shots off its opening-day score but failed to make up any ground in finishing third at the Natural State Golf Classic here Tuesday.
 
The Bronchos closed with a 312 to finish the two-day, 36-hole tournament with a 630 total at the par-71 Red Apple Country Club.  Henderson State won the 13-team tournament at 620, four shots ahead of Arkansas Tech.
 
UCO was led by seniors Aly Seng and Taylor Neidy, who both shot 76 in tying for sixth in the medalist race with 157 totals.  Bethany Darrough and Lindsey Bench each had an 80, while June Tigert came in with an 81 that left her ninth in the individual standings at 158.
 
Seng was steady all day, making six pars and three bogeys in a front-nine 39 before recording seven pars and two bogeys in a closing 37.  Neidy had a pair of double bogeys in making the turn at 40 before playing the back nine at one-over 36.
 
The Bronchos travel to Mountain Home, Ark. next Monday and Tuesday for the First Federal Bank Invitational hosted by Henderson State at Big Creek Golf Club.

Rogers State women’s golf team ended its 2013-14 season placing fourth of 13 teams at the Natural State Golf Classic after lowering its team score to a 321 in the final round Tuesday at the Red Apple Inn and Country Club.

 Freshman Kina Boone could not hold the overnight lead firing an 80 in round two slipping to fourth place overall totaling 152, seven strokes behind the top finisher. Raquel Trevino matched her 79 from the first round recording a 1-over-par 36 on the back nine to tie for ninth at 158 while Whitney Hocutt closed her RSU career with a 79. The senior tied with Trevino for the Hillcats’ low round of the day showing the largest improvement from Monday dropping seven shots off her total to tie for 14th at 165.
 
Chelsea Burney fired an 83 Tuesday placing 22nd and Michelle Tierney carded a second-round 85 to finish 28th for RSU.
 
The Hillcats ended the event with a score of 644, 14 strokes behind third-place and No. 13-ranked Central Oklahoma (630). Henderson State equaled its day one score of 310 to hold off second-place Arkansas Tech for the team title.
 
Kendall Earp of Henderson State claimed individual medalist honors with an even-par 71 in the second round for a five-shot victory with a 145.
 
Hocutt rounded out her four-year career with the Hillcat golf team posting an 83.8 scoring average in 71 rounds covering 37 tournaments.
 

NSU women take fifth place in Argonaut Invitational

PACE, Fla. – The No. 22-ranked Northeastern State women’s golf team finished fifth in the final round of the Argonaut Invitational Tuesday afternoon, which was hosted by the University of West Florida at the Par-72, 6,022-yard Stonebrook Golf Club.

The RiverHawks scored a 991 to finish behind fourth place finisher West Georgia who shot a 957.

The host school, West Florida shot a final round score of 926 to win the Invitational.

Saint Leo carded a 947 to finish in second while Limestone College shot a 956 to end in third.

Freshman Baylee Price led Northeastern shooting an 81 to end the tournament tied for 13th. Freshman Sofia Castiello finished tied for 18th after carding a final round score of 79, the lowest round score for NSU. Junior Arizona Chin shot an 84 in the final round to finish tied for 24th, while junior Brooke Allison carded an 87 to finish 26th. Sophomore Kayla Schroeder shot a 90 and finished tied for 33rd.

The RiverHawks will compete in the MIAA Championship April 21 at the Alvamar Country Club in Lawrence, Kan.