UCO in second, NSU’s Baylee Price tied for lead at Missouri Western Invite

COUNTRY CLUB, Mo. – Bethany Darrough and Katie Bensch both shot 76 to lead Central Oklahoma on the first day of the Missouri Western Invitational here Sunday.

The Bronchos are second in the 15-team field after finishing with a 309 total at the par-72 St. Joseph Country Club.  Arkansas Tech has a two-stroke lead over UCO heading into Monday’s final round, with Lindenwood 6hird at 308, Northeastern State fourth at 318 and Concordia-St. Paul fifth at 324.

"We started off  slow and kind of saved face on the back nine," head coach Michael Bond said.  "We’ve got to play the par-5s better, but we’re in pretty good position and just need to come out ready to go tomorrow."

Darrough and K. Bensch are tied for fourth in the individual standings after their opening 76s.  UCO also got a 78 from Marla Souvannasing, a 79 from Lindsey Bensch and an 81 from Daniela Martinez.

Northeastern State carded a 30-over-par 318 to sit 11 strokes behind leader Arkansas Tech (307).  Sophomore Baylee Price sits in a three-way tie for first place after firing an opening-round 3-over 75. She is tied with Celine Lim of Missouri Western and Taylor Kline of Arkansas Tech. The trio lead a pack of four at 4-over 76.

Freshman Alexis Armon is tied for 15th at 7-over 79, while junior Charter Lawson is T-21 at 8-over 80. Senior Arizona Chin carded a 12-over 84 to land at T-38, while junior Kayla Schroeder is tied for 42nd at 13-over 85.

The final round will be a shotgun start at 10 a.m. March 23.

MWSU/HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS INVITATIONAL – First Round Results
March 22, 2015 at Country Club, Mo.
(par-72, 5,855-yard St. Joseph CC)

Team Results

1.     Arkansas Tech                                 307 (+19)

2.     Central Oklahoma                            309 (+21)

3.     Lindenwood                                     310 (+22)

4.    Northeastern State                       318 (+30)

5.     Concordia-St. Paul                           324 (+36)

6.     Missouri Western State                  327 (+39)

T7.  Upper Iowa                                      328 (+40)

        Henderson State                              328 (+40)

9.     Central Missouri                              329 (+41)

10.  Northwest Missouri State               338 (+50)

11.  Nebraska-Kearney                          339 (+51)

12.  Southwest Minnesota State            347 (+59)

13.  Fort Hays State                                372 (+84)

14.  Lincoln                                              389 (+101)

15.  Southwest Baptist                            404 (+116)

Top-5 Individuals

T1.     Baylee Price (Northeastern State)          75 (+3)

           Celine Lim (Missouri Western State)           75 (+3)

           Taylor Kline (Arkansas Tech)                       75 (+3)

T4.     Kelly Welker (Central Missouri)                   75 (+3)

           Bethany Darrough (Central Oklahoma)       76 (+4)

           Megan Jeffery (Arkansas Tech)                    76 (+4)

           Katie Bensch (Central Oklahoma)                 76 (+4)

NSU Individuals

T1.     Baylee Price                                             75 (+3)

T15.   Alexis Armon                                           79 (+7)

T21.   Charter Lawson                                      80 (+8)

T38.   Arizona Chin                                            84 (+12)

T42.   Kayla Schroeder                                      85 (+13)