Three OCU Stars share lead in Susie Maxwell Berning Classic at Lincoln Park
OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City University built the early advantage with three Stars in a tie for the individual lead after the first round of the Susie Maxwell Berning Classic on Monday at Lincoln Park Golf Course.
Oklahoma City, ranked fourth in NAIA women’s golf, took a three-stroke edge through 18 holes. The Stars’ Meghan Charles, MaKayla Tyrrell and Jamie Welsh shared the top spot on the leaderboard.
The Stars turned in a team round of 290 on the par-71, 5,833-yard West Course. Texas Wesleyan, ranked 23rd, held the team lead before settling for a 293, while Bellevue (Neb.) shot a 296.
Charles, Tyrrell and Welsh split the individual lead with Bellevue’s Tylah Saifoloi. Charles, a sophomore nursing major from Sand Springs, reeled in a 35-36–71. Charles knocked in five birdies with three in a row on Nos. 4-6. Charles matched the low round she had in the Rose Creek Classic on Oct. 4-5, 2021.
Tyrrell posted a 33-38–71. Tyrrell, a freshman from Southlake, Texas, majoring in marketing, sank birdies on the 14th and 18th holes. Welsh, a sophomore from Coppell, Texas, studying cell & molecular biology, delivered a 33-38–71. Welsh landed birdies on the 10th and 17th holes.
OCU boasted of four golfers among the top five. The Stars’ Maddi Kamas totaled a 34-38–72 to tie for fifth. Kamas, a sophomore from Kingfisher, majoring in business administration, nailed birdies on four of her last seven holes.
Paige Wood provided the Stars with a 36-37–73, which tied her for ninth. Wood, a sophomore broadcast journalism major from McKinney, Texas, made birdies on the 14th and 16th holes. Logan Allen recorded a 35-39–74, tied for 11th. Allen, a freshman from Las Vegas, majoring in university studies, dropped in birdies on the 10th and 16th holes.
Aubrey House, a freshman from McAlester, majoring in cell & molecular biology, came up with a 38-36–74 to tie for 11th. House buried a birdie on No. 13. Natalie Gough, a graduate student from Bixby, working on a master’s in business administration, added a 38-39–77.
The Stars entered a second team, which held fourth with a 298. OCU’s No. 2 team included Charles, House, Welsh, Blaine Bruton (41-41–82) and Carrie Bowers (44-47–91).
The tournament draws to a close with the final round, which begins 8:30 a.m. Tuesday in a shotgun start.