Oklahoma Christian sixth in West Texas Desert Invitational
Photo: Senior Elizabeth Freeman posted her best round of the spring on Tuesday in the West Texas Desert Invitational.
TUCSON, Ariz. (April 9, 2019) – Abigail Rigsby closed strong and Elizabeth Freeman posted her best round of the spring on Tuesday as No. 18-ranked Oklahoma Christian finished sixth in its final golf tournament of the regular season, the power-packed West Texas Desert Invitational at The Lodge at Ventana Canyon.
Playing with only four women, the Eagles posted a team score of 310 in the final round, giving them a two-round score of 616. No. 7-ranked California State-San Marcos and No. 11 Grand Valley State (Mich.) – for which former OC men’s golf All-American Axel Ochoa serves as an assistant coach – tied for first in the 17-team field at 597.
The only other teams to finish ahead of OC also were nationally ranked – No. 8 Lynn (Fla.) was third at 604, No. 5 West Texas A&M was fourth at 611 and No. 15 St. Mary’s (Texas) was fifth at 614. No. 23 St. Edward’s (Texas) also was in the tournament, finishing eighth at 626.
Rigsby, a junior from Courtenay, British Columbia, started the day in seventh place in the 85-woman field endured a wild round. She started on hole No. 8 and during her first eight holes, she had three double bogeys and two bogeys and was 8-over for the round. But she birdied No. 16 to steady herself, then had three more birdies in her final six holes to salvage a 6-over-par 78. She finished at 152, good for 14th place.
Freeman, a senior from Edmond, had consecutive birdies on No. 13 and No. 14 near the start of her round and held on to post a 75, giving her an overall score of 154, tied for 20th.
OC sophomore Shaley Goad of Wheeler, Texas, had three birdies on the 5,978-yard course and shot 77 to finish at 155, tied for 26th with her teammate, senior Kate Goodwin of Tulsa, who closed with an 80.
The Eagles now will turn their attention to the postseason. They’ll play in the Heartland Conference Championship, which will begin a three-day run on Sunday at Slick Rock Golf Course in Horseshoe Bay, Texas.