Former OJGT regular Schmidt ties school record with 68, leads Arkansas State to fifth in Sun Belt
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (4/17/19) – Led by all-tournament selection Maria Jose Atristain Vega and Edmond freshman Olivia Schmidt, the Arkansas State women’s golf team completed play Wednesday at the Sun Belt Conference Championships in fifth place out of 11 teams with a 54-hole 889.
The Red Wolves ended the outing with their best three-round score ever at the league championships, which was also their best in any tournament since at least the 2000-01 season. Their total included their second lowest single-round score of the season, a 294 for the second 18 holes. The squad closed out competition today with a 296, while also posting a 299 for Monday’s opening round at the LPGA International.
“This team finish is one of the best three-day totals we’ve had in a while,” said A-State head coach MJ Desbiens Shaw. “Our scores have become consistently lower through the year, and this was a great time to peak as a team. “
A-State finished just three strokes behind fourth-place Troy and within seven of third-place Georgia Southern. South Alabama claimed the team title with a combined 877, while Texas State finished runner-up with an 880.
Atristain Vega earned all-tournament recognition after finishing sixth and posting a career-best 220, which included a career-tying 73 for both the first and third rounds. She collected the second-best finish of her career in the process and now owns five top-25 finishes during her two-year career.
Schmidt also posted her second-best finish this season, placing tied for seventh with a season-low 221. The freshman shot a 68 during the tournament’s second day to tie the second lowest single-round score in school history. She began play with a 77 and ended with a 76 today.
“I couldn’t be more proud Maria and Olivia and their performance,” Desbiens Shaw said. “Especially as underclassmen, they both handled the pressure of the final round in an exceptional way. Our team had a great season, and I’m proud of everyone for winning the Sun Belt Academic Team GPA Award.”
Also finishing among the top-20 individuals for A-State, senior Beth Ann Compton placed tied for 18th with a 224. She shot a 75 for each of the first two rounds before coming back to post a 74 today. Junior Grayson Gladden shot a 227 to finish tied for 26th, and senior Aracelly Jimenez Rios recorded a 233 to place 39th.
Following the conclusion of the tournament, the Red Wolves were presented with the Sun Belt’s Team Academic Award for posting the highest GPA in the league.
ARKANSAS STATE RESULTS
Place, Name (RD 1-RD 2-RD 3—Total)
5, Arkansas State (299-294-296—889)
6, Maria Jose Atristain Vega (73-74-73—220)
T7, Oliva Schmidt (77-68-76—221)
T18, Beth Ann Compton (75-75-74—224)
T26, Grayson Gladden (74-77-76—227)
39, Aracelly Jimenez Rios (80-80-73—233)