Hernandez leads NSU to fourth in Central Region Fall Preview
BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. – Northeastern State led all Oklahoma teams with a fourth-place finish in the Central Region Fall Preview at Adams Point Golf Club in Blue Springs, Mo.
Oklahoma Baptist placed seventh, Southwestern Oklahoma State 10th, Southern Nazarene finished 11th and Northwestern Oklahoma State 15th. Henderson State won the event, shooting a 7-under 281 in the second round to finish nine shots ahead of Nebraska-Kearney.
Aitana Hernandez shot an even-par 72 in the second round for NSU to tie for eighth, recording her 21st career top-10 finish.
“Scoring conditions were perfect, and the course was easy from tee to green, and it became a putting contest,” said head coach Scott Varner. “It didn’t really reward good ball striking; we are a good ball striking team.”
True-freshman Hanna Lignell placed 12th shooting a 146 (74-72). Her finish is the best tournament debut by an NSU freshman golfer since Hernandez placed, tied for sixth in the same event in 2018.
Nina Lee shot a 149 (75-74) through the two days and was tied for 18th place. Yasmin Hang was one stroke back (76-74) and tied for 22nd place.
Kelly Swanson carded a 161 (82-79) and finished tied for 53rd.
Nebraska-Kearney’s Faviola Gonzalez and Arkansas-Monticello’s Chiara Sturaro took medalist honors with a 141.
Josie Patterson led Oklahoma Baptist, finishing 18th at 4-over 149. Rebecca Lau paced SWOSU with rounds of 75-80, while Hannah Torres led SNU with rounds of 75-76 to tie for 24th.