Cowgirl Neisen wins Big 12 title, OSU fifth, Sooners seventh
SAN ANTONIO — Oklahoma State’s Kenzie Neisen became the eighth Cowgirl to claim Big 12 medalist honors and the first since Caroline Hedwall in 2010, winning a two-hole playoff at the Big 12 Championship on Sunday at The Dominion Country Club.
The Cowgirls closed with a 12-over 300 to finish at 20-over 884 and in fifth place in the team race. Baylor finished with a 3-over 867 tally to post a 12-shot victory at the par-72, 6,246-yard layout. The University of Oklahoma finished seventh.
Neisen closed with a 73 to finish at 4-under 212 and tied with Baylor’s Laura Lonardi. After both players recorded pars at the par-4 first hole, the OSU freshman defeated Lonardi on the second playoff hole after recording a birdie at the par-5 ninth.
Neisen entered her final round with a three-shot cushion before posting her 1-over closing round, while Lonardi used a 2-under 70 to tie for the top spot. Neisen played a bogey-free front nine that featured eight pars and a birdie at the par-5 seventh to turn at 1-under 35. For the week, she played bogey-free golf over 27 holes on the outward nine while making seven birdies, including five-of-six on the par 5s.
After moving back to even with a bogey at the 10th, she carded another birdie at the 11th to move back into red figures. A bogey at the 14th moved her back to level par before her final bogey of the day came at the 17th. Neisen closed with a par at the 18th to secure a spot in the playoff.
Linnea Johansson posted the squad’s low round of the day with a 70 to join Neisen in the top 10. The sophomore finished alone in ninth place at 219 and her top-10 showing earned her a spot on the all-tournament squad.
Freshman Emma Broze closed with a 77 to finish at 228 and tied for 28th place.
Freshman Maddie McCrary signed for an 82 and tied for 32nd place at 229, while sophomore Isabella Deilert’s 80 gave her a 235 score and sole possession of 42nd place.
The Cowgirls will learn their postseason fate with tomorrow’s NCAA Golf Championships selection show on the Golf Channel at 6 p.m. (CST).
The University of Oklahoma finished in seventh place. The Sooners carded a 297 (+9) on the day and finished the championship at 894 (+30).
Freshman Hannah Wood paced the Sooners, finishing in a share of fifth place out of 45 competitors at 217 (+1). Wood registered a 73 (+1) in Sunday’s round and pocketed a birdie on the No. 13 hole. The tournament marks Wood’s second top-five finish of the season and her sixth top-20 finish in nine events.
Another OU freshman, Ana Ruiz, logged a 74 (+2) in the round and tied for 17th place with a 221 (+5). Sooner freshman Rylee Pedigo bounced back from a rough second round and fired a 74 (+2) on the day. Pedigo finished her first Big 12 Championship tied for 28th place at 228 (+12).
Oklahoma sophomore Alexandra Kaui carded a 76 (+4) in the third round and finished at 230 (+14) to share 36th place. Freshman Valerie Tanguay shot a 77 (+5) in the round and tied for 38th place at 232 (+16).
"Hannah (Wood) and Ana (Ruiz) both had a great tournament," sixth-year OU head coach Veronique Drouin-Luttrell said. "They’ve been working hard and to see all their effort pay off at the end of the year is fantastic. I’m really proud of their fight throughout the weekend. Also, Rylee (Pedigo) really came back for us today with a solid round."
TEAM LEADERBOARD
1. Baylor 282-291-294=867
2. TCU 296-295-288=879
3. Texas Tech 289-294-297=880
4. Iowa State 290-300-291=881
5. Oklahoma State 291-293-300=884
6. Texas 300-296-291=887
7. Oklahoma 295-302-297=894
8. Kansas 301-301-304=906
9. Kansas State 301-305-304=910
PLAYER LEADERBOARD
1. Kenzie Neisen, Oklahoma State 69-70-73=212
2. Laura Lonardi, Baylor 70-72-70=212
3. Kortnie Maxoutopoulis, TCU 72-74-68=214
4. Pornvipa Sakdee, Kansas 68-74-74=216
T5. Hannah Wood, Oklahoma 73-71-73=217
T5. Yupaporn Kawinpakorn, Kansas 73-69-75=217
T5. Dylan Kim, Baylor 71-73-73=217
T5. Stephanie Bertelsen, Texas Tech 70-73-74=217