OCU has day’s low round, rises to fourth in NAIA Championship
POOLER, Ga. – Oklahoma City University posted the low round of the day to rise to fourth place in the NAIA women’s golf championships Thursday at Savannah Quarters Country Club.
Two-time defending national champion Oklahoma City compiled a 303 to close to within 10 strokes off the pace. Emma Allen, a freshman from Tulsa, spearheaded the fourth-ranked Stars by carding a 74.
OCU’s 307-315-303-925 trailed co-leaders ninth-rated Cumberlands (Ky.), which had a 312-298-305-915, and No. 1-ranked Northwood (Fla.), which recorded a 308-301-306-915. The final round begins at 7:30 a.m. EDT Friday.
Allen moved into a tie for 10th place at 72-82-74-228 to put herself in contention for all-tournament accolades. Allen notched birdies on the par-4, 350-yard ninth hole, par-4, 258-yard 11th hole and the par-5, 494-yard 13th hole. Allen ended her day with her birdie on No. 9.
"I’m really proud of the way the girls fought back today," OCU coach Marty McCauley said. "After yesterday’s round, it would have been easy for them to give up, but they showed their true character. We are all excited for the final round."
The Stars’ Katie-Lee Wilson turned in a 77-77-77-231, good for a tie for 22nd. Wilson, a sophomore from Owasso, racked up birdies on the par-4, 354-yard second hole and No. 13. Anna Mikish contributed an 81-79-77-237 for OCU. Mikish, a sophomore from Choctaw, birdied the par-4, 291-yard eighth hole.
Caroline Goodin provided the Stars an 87-77-75-239. Goodin, a sophomore from Oklahoma City, had a bogey and double bogey in her first three holes, then played at even-par the remainder of her round. Kailey Campbell picked up a 77-91-81-249. Campbell, a sophomore from Oktaha, had birdies on the par-5, 513-yard third hole and the par-5, 483-yard 17th hole.
Conditions on the par-72, 6,004-yard course included 66-degree temperatures at the start of the day. The temperature rose to 83 degrees and wind gusts blew up to 23 mph.