Cowgirls battle tough field at Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge
PALOS VERDES, Calif. – Facing a daunting field with 11 opponents ranked inside the top 30 of the Golfstat national rankings, the Oklahoma State women’s golf team finished the first round of the spring tied for eighth at the Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge.
Kenzie Neisen and Maddie McCrary combined for five birdies at the Palos Verdes Golf Club, and both will enter Monday’s second round tied for 19th at 2-over 73. Neisen is the two-time defending Big 12 individual champion, while McCrary is a two-time All-Big 12 selection who is making her return to competition after missing the fall with an injury.
Both Neisen and McCrary will enter the second round five strokes behind the leader, Leona Maguire of Duke. UCLA is atop the team leaderboard by five strokes at 4-under 280.
After starting her round 5-over through the first four holes, Chih-Min Chen regrouped and went 1-under with three birdies over the next 14 holes. The reigning Big 12 Freshman of the Year will be in a tie for 43rd place at 4-over 75 on Monday.
Linnea Johansson carded a 5-over 76, while Alexis Sadeghy wasn’t far behind at 6-over 77. Those Cowgirls will enter round two tied for 56th and 65th place, respectively.
McCandren Mack is playing as an individual, and is in 73rd place at 7-over 78 after 18 holes. Mack posted a pair of birdies on the final five holes of the day.
Team Leaderboard
1. UCLA (-4) 280
2. Southern California (+1) 285
3. Duke (+3) 287
…
T9. Oklahoma State (+13) 297
Individual Leaderboard
T1. Leona Maguire, Duke (-3) 68
T1. Robynn Ree, Southern California (-3) 68
Oklahoma State
T20. Maddie McCrary (+2) 73
T20. Kenzie Neisen (+2) 73
T44. Chih-Min Chen (+4) 75
T56. Linnea Johansson (+5) 76
T65. Alexis Sadeghy (+6) 77
(IND) T73. McCandren Mack (+7) 78