UCO grabs lead in UCO/RCB Bank Classic at Lincoln Park

OKLAHOMA CITY (Oct. 6) – Daniela Martinez took advantage of near-perfect playing conditions with a school-record 66 to spark Central Oklahoma to the opening-day lead in the UCO/RCB Bank Classic Monday.

Martinez’s five-under-par round at Lincoln Park (East) Golf Course gave her a commanding five-shot cushion in the individual race and the Bronchos finished with a 287 total in taking a four-stroke lead in the team standings.

Oklahoma Christian is second in the 15-team tournament, followed by Northeastern State (297), Lindenwood (300) and Southwest Oklahoma (307).  Final-round play begins at 9 a.m. Tuesday.

The Bronchos, who have won all three fall tournaments and nine of their last 15 events going back to last year, also got 73s from Marla Souvannasing and June Tigert, a 75 from Lindsey Bensch and a 77 from Bethany Darrough.

Tressa Brumley (75), Katie Bensch (77) and Allyson Wilcox (82) are competing as individual medalists.

"We played pretty well today and Daniela was just exceptional," head coach Michael Bond said.  "She was in total control the whole day and had a phenomenal round.  There’s still a lot of golf left and we have to be ready to go tomorrow."

Martinez, a junior transfer from Northwood (Texas) who was a first-team NAIA All-American last year, didn’t have a blemish on her scoreboard with 13 pars and five birdies.

She started her round on No. 2 and parred the first two holes before making back-to-back birdies to quickly get to two-under.  Martinez added birdie on Nos. 7, 13 and 17 to get to five-under before finishing off the record round with two pars.

The 66 bettered the previous school record 68 shared by Taylor Neidy and Kelly Callison.

Souvannasing started on No. 1 and had two birdies, two bogeys and five pars in making the turn at even-par 36.  She got to one-under with a birdie on No. 12, but double bogeyed the 14th and bogeyed the 16th in finishing with a back-nine 37.

Tigert opened her round on No. 4 and was four-over after the first 10 holes before bouncing back.  She made consecutive birdies on Nos. 17 and 18 and played the last eight holes two-under in rallying for the 73.

Souvannasing and Tigert are tied for seventh in the medalist race.

For the second time this season, Oklahoma Christian matched or broke the record for the lowest single-round team score in the program’s history, and OC coach Greg Lynn says the Lady Eagles can play even better.

OC’s team score of 291 left the Lady Eagles four shots behind Central Oklahoma.

With three players – Audrey Meisch, Allison Sell and Anna Arrese Cortadellas – in the individual top five, OC would appear poised to make a run at the title during Tuesday’s final round.

"It’s our low round but there is still room for improvement," Lynn said. "I expect us to do better tomorrow."

The 291 (7-over-par) broke the previous program record of 292, set last October during the UCO tournament at Lincoln Park East and matched last month during the Susie Maxwell Berning Classic at Lincoln Park West.

Meisch led the Lady Eagles on Monday with an even-par 71, tying her for second with Northeastern State’s Charter Lawson, five shots behind Central Oklahoma’s Daniela Martinez.

Arrese Cortadellas and Sell were another shot back, tied for fourth in the 82-woman field with Madelyn Piccininni of Lindenwood (Mo.). OC senior Catherine Odgers fired a 76 and was tied for 17th, while Dana Todd was tied for 25th after shooting a 77.

In the team race, the Lady Eagles were six shots ahead of third-place Northeastern State and nine shots ahead of Lindenwood, with Southwestern Oklahoma State in fifth at 307.

The NSU RiverHawks posted 13-over-par 297 in the first round to sit 10 strokes behind host Central Oklahoma (287). Junior Charter Lawson fired a season-best 71 to tie for second with OCU’s Audrey Meisch.  

Freshman Alexis Armon is tied for seventh at 2-over 73, while junior Kayla Schroeder carded a career-low 76 to land in a tie for 17th. Sophomore Baylee Price is tied for 25th at 6-over 77, while senior Arizona Chin sits T-34 at 7-over 78.

 The final round will be contested Tuesday.

 UCO RCB CLASSIC – First Round Results
October 6, 2014 at Oklahoma City, Okla.
(par-71, 6,026-yard Lincoln Park East Golf Course)

Team Results

1.        Central Oklahoma                               287 (+3)

2.        Oklahoma Christian                            291 (+7)

3.        Northeastern State                            297 (+13)

4.        Lindenwood                                       300 (+16)

5.        Southwestern Oklahoma State           307 (+23)

6.        Henderson State                                 310 (+26)

7.        Angelo State                                       315 (+31)

T8.     Northwest Missouri State                   317 (+33)

           Central Missouri                                  317 (+33)

           East Central                                        317 (+33)

11.      Missouri Western State                       321 (+37)

12.      Oklahoma Christian (B)                      328 (+44)

13.      Harding                                               331 (+47)

14.      Southern Nazarene                              332 (+48)

15.      Southwest Baptist                               353 (+69)

Top-5 Results

1.        Daniela Martinez (Central Oklahoma)         66 (-5)

T2.     Charter Lawson (Northeastern State)     71 (E)

           Audrey Meisch (Oklahoma Christian)         71 (E)

T4.     Allison Sell (Oklahoma Christian)               72 (+1)

           Anna Arrese (Oklahoma Christian)             72 (+1)

           Madelyn Piccininni (Lindenwood)              72 (+1)