UCO jumps ahead in MIAA Championship, RSU 11 shots back
BARTLESVILLE, Okla. (April 22) – Central Oklahoma put three players among the top 10 individuals in taking control of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Women’s Golf Championships Monday.
The Bronchos shot rounds of 302-310 for a 612 total after two trips around the 5,921-yard, par-72 Hillcrest Country Club, leaving them with an 11-shot lead on Rogers State.
Central Missouri is third in the 11-team event at 626, followed by defending champion Northeastern State (629) and Missouri Western (646). Final-round play is scheduled to start at 8 a.m. Friday, weather permitting.
Susana Olivares paced UCO in first-day play, shooting 72-74 for a 146 total that has her second in the individual standings. Sydney Roberts is fifth after rounds of 78-76=154 and Emma Shelley is tied for sixth at 155 (76-79).
Emily Miller is tied for 11th with a 157 total after shooting 76-81, while Madison O’Dell shot 88-83.
“We played pretty well today and put ourselves in good position,” said head coach Michael Bond, whose team is attempting to end NSU’s string of four straight league titles. “We made a few mistakes, but stayed focused and did a great job coming back from those.”
Olivares overcame a back-nine triple bogey in shooting an opening-round 72.
The MIAA Freshman of the Year winner was 2-under after birdieing the par-5 10th, then bogeyed No. 12 and tripled No. 14 in dropping to two-over. Olivares responded in style with birdies on the par-4 15th and par-4 17th to get back to polish off the even-par round.
Olivares started the afternoon round with 10 straight pars, then had two bogeys and six more pars down the stretch in carding a 74. She trails Rogers State’s Mariana Flores by one shot in the individual race.
Flores carded rounds of 72 and 73 with three birdies in each round and had 12 pars in round one, with 11 pars in round two.
After hanging around the top three for most of the first round, Flores moved up to a tie for first with Olivares after the close of round one, as she finished the opening 18 holes at even par.
The duo remained at the top of the leaderboard for round two, but Flores carded a birdie on 15 to move a shot ahead.
Marelda Ayal had a strong opening day as well for the Hillcats with rounds of 78-77, sitting in a tie for sixth heading into the final round.
Jessica Green and Sydney Murray had the other scoring rounds for the Hillcats on day one.
Green opened with an 81 to sit 16th after 18 holes. Green then carded a 78 in the second round and enters the final day tied for 15th,
Murray shot 80-84 and is tied for 24th.
Northeastern State will have a tall task to win its fifth consecutive championship, having to make up 17 shots.
Aitana Hernandez paces the RiverHawks and is tied for sixth place, carding a 155 (77-78). Nina Lee is two strokes back (79-78) tied for 11th overall.
Kaylee Petersen is tied for 13th overall with a 158 (82-76). Kelly Swanson turned in a 159 (81-78) and is tied for 15th place.
Yasmin Hang placed 37th and scored a 170 (86-84).