OCU’s Gough named SAC Golfer of the Year
OKLAHOMA CITY – Natalie Gough from Oklahoma City University garnered Sooner Athletic Conference women’s Golfer of the Year honors.
Marty McCauley of Oklahoma City reeled in conference coach of the year, while the Stars’ Melissa Eldredge and Lauryn Pritchard joined Gough on the all-SAC team.
Gough, a sophomore from Bixby, owned a 76.53 scoring average this season. Gough nabbed four top-10 finishes, 38 birdies and one eagle in seven events. She posted her finest round of 36-31–67 and matched the program’s best round against par (5 under par) en route to her first career win in the Southwestern Christian Invitational on Sept. 23-24 at Lake Hefner Golf Course in Oklahoma City. Gough became a two-time all-SAC performer after taking league freshman of the year last season.
McCauley landed his sixth SAC coach of the year honor, picking up league coach of the year for the second year in a row. The Stars earned two victories and four top-five finishes in seven starts, while three Oklahoma City golfers notched all-conference honors this season. OCU remained among the top eight spots in the NAIA rankings throughout the season. McCauley completed his 10th year as OCU coach and has 28 wins, seven SAC titles and three national championships to his credit.
Eldredge, a senior from Eufaula, Okla., provided OCU with a 77.00 stroke average and 33 birdies this season. Eldredge has recorded three top-10 finishes and two top-five showings. Eldredge had her fourth career sub-70 round with a 69 in the Missouri State/Payne Stewart Memorial on Sept. 9 in Springfield, Mo. Her career scoring average of 76.92 ranks fifth in Stars annals. Eldredge, the 2019 SAC golfer of the year, picked up her fourth all-SAC nod. Eldredge has opted to return to OCU for a fifth year of competition.
Pritchard, a sophomore from Allen, Texas, averaged 77.82 shots per 18 holes with 30 birdies in 2019-20. Pritchard, a two-time all-SAC choice, collected her second career win in the Sydney Cox Invitational on Oct. 14-15 at Lincoln Park Golf Course in Oklahoma City. She finished among the top five three times with a runner-up finish in the Southwestern Christian Invitational.
Texas Wesleyan’s Piper Frisbie became SAC freshman of the year. Frisbie, a freshman from Flower Mound, Texas, produced a 75.50 stroke average with 31 birdies and an eagle in 2019-20.
Oklahoma City owns eight national championships won in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014 and 2017.
