OCU first, UCO second in Southern Plains Intercollegiate at Gaillardia
OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City University closed out the fall season by winning the Southern Plains Intercollegiate on Tuesday at Gaillardia Country Club.
Oklahoma City, ranked third in NAIA men’s golf, took its third tournament title in four starts this fall. The Stars turned in a 288-297-288-873 on the par-72, 7,018-yard course.
OCU rallied from a one-shot deficit entering Tuesday’s play. The Stars finished seven shots in front of Central Oklahoma, ranked 24th in NCAA Division II, and 12 strokes ahead of Wayland Baptist (Texas), ranked seventh in the NAIA.
The Stars have risen to No. 1 in the latest Golfweek coaches poll. OCU will be idle until the Arizona Christian Invitational on Feb. 13-14, 2016 in Phoenix.
Issa Abou el Ela of the Stars equaled his career-best finish by tying for tournament runner-up. The senior from Alexandria, Egypt, recorded a 70-72-73-215 playing as an individual to finish seven strokes behind tournament champion Leo Mathard of Texas Wesleyan.
Matthew Cheung supplied OCU with a 72-76-68-216. Cheung, a junior from Brisbane, Australia, tied for fourth place, while Rupert Kaminski finished knotted for sixth. Kaminski, a freshman from Johannesburg, South Africa, pitched in a 71-73-73-217 for OCU.
Garrison Mendoza’s 76-71-71-218 gave the Stars another top-10 finisher. Mendoza, a junior from Clinton, Okla., tied for eighth playing unattached.
OCU’s Anthony Marchesani, a senior from Rosebud, Victoria, Australia, took 11th with his 74-70-76-220, while Jett Johnson, a senior from Norman, Okla., tied for 16th with a 71-79-75-225. Zac Oliver, a senior from Checotah, Okla., contributed an 80-78-72-230 for the Stars.
The temperature began at 54 degrees when the final round started. The high temperature of the day was 74 with 9 mph winds.
Eli Armstrong and Cody Troutman had top-10 finishes to lead Central Oklahoma to the runner-up showing.
Troutman and Eric Kline paced the Bronchos with even-par 72s, while Armstrong shot 74, Gavin Mastell 76 and Russ Purser 83. Alberto Nava had a 79 and Wesley Jackson an 80 playing as individuals.
Armstrong tied for second in the medalist standings with a one-under-par 215 total, with Troutman tying for sixth at 217.
It was the final fall tournament for the Bronchos.
1, Oklahoma City 288-297-288 – 873
2, Central Oklahoma 292-294-294 – 880
3, Wayland Baptist 295-289-301 – 885
4, Texas Wesleyan 309-296-294 – 899
5, St. Gregory’s U. 300-303-299 – 902
6, Murray State College 302-301-321 – 924
8, Oklahoma Baptist 299-315-321 – 935
9, Southwestern College 309-311-328 – 948
10, Ottawa Univ. (KS) 327-308-330 – 965