Oklahoma Christian takes top three spots in Augustana Spring Fling romp
PALM DESERT, Calif. (March 20, 2015) – On a brutally tough golf course, Oklahoma Christian had about as perfect a finish as any team could hope on Friday in the Augustana Spring Fling.
Led by an amazing 1-2-3 individual showing by Audrey Meisch, Anna Arrese Cortadellas and Allison Sell, the Lady Eagles rolled to a decisive 23-shot win in the Augustana Spring Fling at The Classic Club.
OC posted a team score of 298 to finish at 614, with a pair of NCAA Division II powers, California Baptist and Dallas Baptist (Texas), tied for second at 637. It not only was the third tournament win in OC program history, it also marked the Lady Eagles’ first-ever win over Dallas Baptist, a Heartland Conference rival.
But that was only arguably the highlight of the tournament for the Lady Eagles. Meisch, a junior from Wichita, Kan., who was tied for second entering the round, shot a 1-under-par 71 to finish at 149 for the tournament. It was the only under-par round by anyone in the 71-woman field.
Arrese Cortadellas, a senior from Barcelona, Spain, who was the first-round leader, closed with a 78 for a two-day score of 152. Sell, a sophomore from Edmond, recorded a career-best third-place finish, shooting a 73 to finish at 154.
It was the second 1-2-3 individual finish in OC history. Morgan Dockery, current senior Catherine Odgers and current assistant coach Sarah Harper went 1-2-3 in March 2013 at the Diffee Ford-Lincoln Invitational at Kickingbird Golf Course in Edmond.
But there’s no question The Classic Club’s 5,901-yard layout was much tougher.
"This is by far the hardest course the girls have ever had to play," OC coach Greg Lynn said. "There’s water on every hole, the greens are rock-hard and the pins are put in very difficult places. But the OC girls were amazing. I am so very proud of the way they played. Audrey and Anna and Allison really came through and India (Matthews) found her swing and gave us a good score."
Matthews just missed a top-10 finish, ending up 12th at 159 after a final-round 76, and Odgers’ 84 put her at 169, tied for 31st. Sophomore Dana Todd, playing as an individual, posted an 83 and tied for 37th at 173.
OC began the day with a five-shot lead but that margin quickly grew, giving the Lady Eagles their largest margin of victory ever since the program started in the fall of 2011.
The Lady Eagles, who entered the spring with one tournament win in 3½ years, now have two this month, having also won the Las Vegas Desert Classic. They’ve got one more tournament in March – the Dallas Baptist Patriot Classic on the 30th and 31st at Tangle Ridge Golf Club in Grand Prairie, Texas.