Oklahoma holds onto Big 12 Championship lead through 36 holes
NORMAN, Okla. — The 13th-ranked University of Oklahoma women’s golf team retained its first-place lead Saturday following its second-round 292 (+4) at the Big 12 Championship in Austin, Texas. The nine-team, three-round tournament is being played at the 6,143-yard, par-72 UT Golf Club.
At +7, the Sooners hold a three-stroke lead over second-place Texas and a nine-shot advantage over third-place Kansas. OU entered the day with a two-stroke lead over second-place Kansas State. All five Sooners are in the top 25 of the individual standings heading into the final round.
Senior Chirapat Jao-Javanil continues to lead the Sooner charge. The three-time All-Big 12 honoree, who shared the top spot entering Saturday, logged an even-par 72 in the second round and fell to second place, just one stroke behind Texas’ Natalie Karcher. Jao-Javanil tied for second place at the 2012 Big 12 Championship.
Kaitlyn Rohrback, who began the tournament in OU’s No. 5 position, posted the team’s best score of the day. The senior recorded a team-high four birdies and fired a 1-under 71. Her two-round 144 (E) has her tied for fourth place out of 44 competitors, four shots out of the lead.
Sooner freshman Alexandra Kaui and senior Emily Collins stand at +5 for the tournament and are tied for 13th place. Kaui shot a second-round 74 (+2) while Collins carded a 75 (+3).
Senior Anne-Catherine Tanguay recorded a day-two 75 (+3) for the Sooners and stands at +6 for the tournament. She is in 23rd place.
OU head coach Veronique Drouin-Luttrell said her team is excited and prepared going into Sunday’s final round.
"We played consistent again today," Drouin-Luttrell said. "We have to play our own game tomorrow and see what happens at the end. We’ve been practicing all year for this."
Sunday’s third and final round of the Big 12 Championship will begin at 8 a.m. CT. Oklahoma will tee off starting at 9:40 a.m. and will be paired with Texas and Kansas. Live stats are available at GolfStat.com.