Eldredge, Gough, Pritchard earn All-America honors for OCU
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Melissa Eldredge, Natalie Gough and Lauryn Pritchard of Oklahoma City University collected NAIA women’s golf all-American accolades.
Eldredge grabbed first-team honors. Gough was selected to the second team, while Pritchard captured third-team all-American acclaim. Eldredge became a three-time all-American.
In 2018-19, Eldredge posted a 75.56 stroke average, two wins, four top-five finishes and six top-10 showings in 27 rounds. Eldredge, a junior from Eufaula, Okla., buried 66 birdies on the season. She finished tied for first place in the Southwestern Christian Invite on Sept. 17-18 at Lake Hefner Golf Course and won the Sooner Athletic Conference Championships on April 19-20 at Lincoln Park Golf Course.
Eldredge snagged SAC player of the year for her third all-conference nod. She took two SAC golfer of the week honors, NAIA golfer of the week and all-tournament honors in the SAC Championships and the NAIA Championships on May 14-17 at Lincoln Park. Eldredge made second-team all-American as a freshman and sophomore.
Gough compiled a 76.33 stroke average, 51 birdies and three top-five finishes. Gough, a freshman from Bixby, Okla., reeled in a third-place finish in the Southwestern Christian Invitational. She garnered SAC golfer of the week for March 11-17, all-SAC and SAC Championships all-tournament.
Pritchard sank 42 birdies while posting a 78.48 stroke average, tying Eldredge to win the Southwestern Christian Invite. Pritchard, a freshman from Allen, Texas, turned in two top-10 finishes on the season. She joined Eldredge and Gough as all-conference golfers.
OCU picked up three victories this season, winning the Southwestern Christian Invitational, the Susie Maxwell Berning Classic on March 18-19 and the SAC championship. OCU took its seventh conference title in eight years. The Stars finished fourth in the OUAZ Spring Invite on Oct. 15-16 and the NAIA Championships. The Stars crushed their record for margin of victory by winning the SCU Invite by 46 strokes. Oklahoma City will host the NAIA Championships again May 12-15, 2020 at Lincoln Park.
Oklahoma City owns national championships won in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014 and 2017.