Oklahoma Christian fourth, RSU 11th in Central Regional Preview
Photo: Junior Garrett White helped the Eagles to a fourth-place finish at the West-South Central Regional Preview.
At that course this week, facing most of the squads they’ll see in the postseason, the Eagles placed a solid fourth in the 23-team field. OC finished highest among the eight Heartland Conference teams in the two-day event.
OC posted a final-round team score of 294 on Tuesday, putting the Eagles at 580 for the tournament, six shots behind the winner, Colorado-Colorado Springs. Longtime NCAA Division II power Chico State (Calif.) was second, one shot behind UCCS, with Holy Names (Calif.) third, another shot back.
Leading OC on Tuesday was junior Garrett White, who shot an even-par 71 on the 6,805-yard links-style course and tied for 11th in the 120-man field at 144. Also at 144 was OC junior Juan Pallach, who closed with a 74.
Freshman Andres Brictson tied for 25th at 147 after posting a 77 on Tuesday, while junior Ethan Smith shot a 75 and tied for 32nd at 148. Two shots back at 150 was junior Cameron Brown, who shot a final-round 74.
OC entered the day tied for second and briefly moved into a tie for the lead early in the round, but Chico State surged, shooting 6-under as a team, and Holy Names did the same, posting a 1-over team score.
The Eagles picked up key late birdies from Pallach (at the par-4 No. 18) and White (at the par-5 No. 17) and three straight birdies from Smith at No. 14, No. 15 and No. 16, as well as an eagle at No. 17 from Brown to hold off Heartland rivals St. Mary’s (Texas) and Arkansas-Fort Smith.
OC will play close to home next Monday and Tuesday, as the Eagles are set to compete in the Broncho Invitational, to be hosted by Central Oklahoma at Oak Tree Country Club in Edmond.
Rogers State placed 11th out of 23 teams after shooting a second-round 300 for a 36-hole total of 592.
Freshman Luke Palmowski posted a 4-over-par 75 in the final round for a two-round score of 3-over-par 145 and a top 20 finish at 16th. He registered two birdies with four bogeys, but fell out of the top 10 late with a double bogey on No. 18. Palmowski finished with five birdies and an eagle in the 36 holes.
Freshman Aidan Gavey matched Palmowski with a final round 75 for a 147 total to place 25th. Â Senior Alex Marsh shot 73, the best the best of any Hillcat in the final round. Â Marsh along with teammates George Burnett and Gonzalo Chaves all finished at 10-over-par 152 for the two rounds.
The Hillcats are off next week before returning to competition at the St. Edward’s Invitational on March 26-27 in Austin, Texas at Onion Creek Country Club.