Kamas, Stars cruise to SAC crown at The Territory, set sights on national title
DUNCAN, Okla. – Top-ranked Oklahoma City University captured the team championship in the Sooner Athletic Conference women’s golf championships Tuesday at The Territory Golf & Country Club.
Oklahoma City, ranked No. 1 in the NAIA, delivered the largest margin of victory in the SAC Championships (28 strokes) since 2009. Maddi Kamas took the individual conference title to highlight four Stars who finished atop the player standings.
The Stars wrapped up their 17th SAC championship and eighth conference crown in 10 years. OCU posted a 296-289-283–868 on the par-72, 5,803-yard course. Ninth-ranked Texas Wesleyan carded a 310-295-291–896, and Southwestern Christian had a third-place 349-334-321–1,004. OCU’s 28-stroke cushion accounted for the biggest win in the SAC Championships since the Stars finished 59 shots in front of Lubbock Christian (Texas) to take the conference title April 20-21, 2009 at Lincoln Park Golf Course in Oklahoma City.
OCU sets its sights on the NAIA Championships, which take place May 24-27 at Lincoln Park Golf Course in Oklahoma City. The national-tournament field and pairings will be announced May 12. OCU has taken eight national titles (2005, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’09, ’13, ’14 and ’17).
Kamas grabbed individual medalist by two shots over teammates Reagan Chaney and Rachel Eckert. Kamas, a freshman from Kingfisher, Okla., produced the only under-par 54-hole score of the tournament (71-73-71–215). Kamas made seven birdies over the three rounds to clinch her third victory of the season. Kamas had two birdies and only one bogey Tuesday.
Chaney shot a 75-73-69–217 to came in second tied with Eckert. Chaney, a freshman from Ardmore, Okla., knocked in seven birdies, including three without a bogey in the final round. Eckert put together a 72-75-70–217 to take her career-best finish. Eckert, a senior from Bixby, Okla., tied for the tournament lead with eight birdies, with three birdies and only bogey in the last 18 holes.
OCU’s Natalie Gough earned her third all-tournament nod in the SAC Championships with a 78-68-74–220. Gough, a senior from Bixby, Okla., drained a tournament-high eight birdies as well as the only eagle of the tournament during the second round. Malisone Chanthapanya led Texas Wesleyan with a fifth-place 77-75-71–223 to round out the all-tournament team.
The Stars’ Morgan Palermo, a freshman from Parker, Colo., turned in a 79-84-73–236 to finish 13th. Lauren Behnken, playing as an individual, gave OCU five golfers in the tournament top 10 with a 77-74-78–229.
Other OCU individuals were Paige Wood, who took 12th, and Meghan Charles, who finished 17th. Wood compiled a 75-79-77–231, and Charles had an 81-83-78–242.
TOURNAMENT AWARDS
Medalist
Maddi Kamas, Oklahoma City
All-Tournament
Reagan Chaney, Oklahoma City
Rachel Eckert, Oklahoma City
Natalie Gough, Oklahoma City
Malisone Chanthapanya, Texas Wesleyan