Cortadellas, Oklahoma Christian prevail in Las Vegas Desert Classic
LAS VEGAS (March 2, 2015) – The playing conditions in the Las Vegas Desert Classic certainly weren’t ideal on Monday, but that didn’t make winning any less enjoyable for Oklahoma Christian’s Anna Arrese Cortadellas or the rest of the Lady Eagles.
Arrese Cortadellas won her sixth career individual title after shooting an exquisite 1-under-par 71 at Paiute Golf Club and the Lady Eagles took a team tournament championship for only the second time in the program’s four-year history, edging NCAA Division II powers Midwestern State (Texas) and Central Oklahoma by one shot.
The senior from Barcelona, Spain, finished the two-day event at 148, tying her for top honors with Marla Souvannasing of Central Oklahoma. Arrese Cortadellas’ last tournament win came during her sophomore season in March 2013, when she won the Lions Classic at Hardscrabble Country Club in Fort Smith, Ark. – an event also played in adverse weather conditions.
OC trailed Midwestern State by three shots entering Monday’s final round, but overcame 40-degree temperatures and strong wind to post a 306 team score – an 11-shot improvement over Sunday – and finish with a two-day score of 623. Midwestern State posted a 310 score in the final round, while UCO had a 306 score, with both finishing at 624.
The Lady Eagles’ only previous team title came last spring, when they won the Kickingbird Classic at Kickingbird Golf Course in Edmond.
"What a day," OC coach Greg Lynn said. "I’m so happy for Anna. She has worked so hard these last three months getting ready. I’m so proud of the way we played with two big-time Division II programs in UCO and Midwestern State."
The under-par round by Arrese Cortadellas was the only one shot by any player in the tournament, but it takes more than one player to win a team championship and that certainly proved true for OC on Monday. Junior Audrey Meisch posted her second straight 78 on the 5,853-yard course to tie for seventh in the 68-woman field at 156.
Two other Lady Eagles finished in the top 20. Sophomore India Matthews’ 80 on Monday put her at 159, tied for 14th, while senior Catherine Odgers improved by seven shots, shooting a 77 that left her at 161, tied for 18th. Freshman Allison Sell posted a 92 and tied for 42nd at 175.
"Anna played great and Audrey was steady," Lynn said. "Cat’s 77 in my opinion was one of the best rounds of the day. The girls all contributed over the two days. This was a team win."
The Lady Eagles will be back in action next Monday and Tuesday in the Diffie Ford-Lincoln Invitational at Kickingbird, a 10-minute drive from the OC campus.