Kamas Gough are 1-2 as OCU romps to SAC championship
FORT WORTH, Texas – Oklahoma City University snared the Sooner Athletic Conference women’s golf championship Tuesday at Waterchase Golf Club.
Maddi Kamas raked in her second league individual title in a row to headline three OCU all-tournament performers. The Stars, ranked fourth in the NAIA, boasted of their 18th SAC championship.
Oklahoma City nabbed its ninth conference crown of the past 11 years by turning in a 295-292-294–881 to win by 25 strokes. Texas Wesleyan, ranked 22nd, totaled a 302-297-307–906, while Wayland Baptist (Texas) shot a 328-325-316–969. Southwestern Christian stood fourth with a 341-324-329–994 followed by Science & Arts (355-348-332–1,035) on the par-72, 5,930-yard course.
The Stars’ Natalie Gough came in second by one shot, while MaKayla Tyrrell took fourth. Texas Wesleyan’s Malisone Chanthapanya snagged third, and Southwestern Christian’s Cristina Galban rounded out the all-tournament team with a fifth-place individual showing.
“I was happy to see our performance against Texas Wesleyan on one of their home courses,” Oklahoma City coach Josh Gorzney said. “This was good preparation for nationals to help us eliminate big numbers on our scorecards. This will be the key in our practice leading up to TPC Deere Run. We make a lot of birdies, but limiting our mistakes to only bogeys is important to us.”
Kamas captured her sixth career win with a 69-72-74–215. Kamas, a sophomore business administration major from Kingfisher, Okla., finished as the only golfer under par by sinking a tournament-best 12 birdies.
Gough earned her fourth career all-tournament honor in the SAC Championships. Gough, a graduate student from Bixby, Okla., pursuing a master’s in business administration, posted a 72-73-71–216 while making 10 birdies. Tyrrell, a freshman from Southlake, Texas, studying marketing, carded a 76-72-73–221 with seven birdies.
Chanthapanya, a sophomore from Fort Worth, Texas, came up with a 71-70-78–219 with 10 birdies. Galban, a freshman from Maturin, Venezuela, delivered a 74-70-78–222.
Paige Wood gave OCU four top-10 finishers. Wood, a sophomore broadcast journalism major from McKinney, Texas, chipped in a 78-80-77–235. Jamie Welsh added a 75-76–151.
Oklahoma City notched the SAC’s berth in the NAIA Championships as the conference champion. The NAIA Championships happen May 23-26 at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Ill. The national-tournament pairings and qualifiers will be unveiled May 11. The Stars have taken eight national championships in 2005, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’09, ’13, ’14 and ’17.
TOURNAMENT AWARDS
Medalist
Maddi Kamas, Oklahoma City
All-Tournament
Natalie Gough, Oklahoma City
Malisone Chanthapanya, Texas Wesleyan
MaKayla Tyrrell, Oklahoma City
Cristina Galban, Southwestern Christian