UCO second at halfway point of D-II National Championship

ALLENDALE, Mich. – Bethany Darrough knocked six shots off her first-round score to spark Central Oklahoma in the second round of the NCAA Division II Women’s Golf Championships here Thursday.

Darrough carded a team-best 75 and the Bronchos shot 308 for a 620 total that has them tied for second at the midway point of the tournament at the 6,193-yard, par-72 Meadows Golf Course on the campus of Grand Valley State.

Indianapolis has a 16-shot lead over UCO and Rollins, while Tarleton State and Lynn are tied for fourth in the 12-team tourney at 625.  Third-round play begins at 7:30 a.m. Friday, with the Bronchos set to start at 8:25.

Four of UCO’s five players broke 80, led by Darrough’s 75.  Katie Bensch and Marla Souvannasing both shot 77, Daniela Martinez had a 79 and Lindsey Bensch an 81.

“Bethany had a solid round today and gave us a big boost,” head coach Michael Bond said.  “Everybody played pretty steady and we didn’t have a lot of big numbers.  There’s still a lot of golf to play and hopefully we’ll come out strong tomorrow.”

The Bronchos started on the tougher back nine in the second round and Darrough was even par after four holes before making two bogeys in shooting a two-over 37.  The Kingfisher senior had six pars, two bogeys and one birdie in a back-nine 38.

Katie Bensch also made the turn at 37 and then birdied the par-5 10th hole, but four bogeys the rest of the way resulted in a closing 40.

Souvannasing had two double bogeys in a front-nine 39 before bouncing back with a 1-over 38 behind a pair of birdies.

Northeastern State sophomore Baylee Price sits in a tie for 29th after Thursday’s second round. Price, the 25th women’s golfer in school history to compete at the Championship, and just the 11th to compete at the tournament twice, shot a 7-over 79 on Thursday. She now sits in a tie for 29th after shooting 4-over on the front and 3-over on the back nine.

Price is set to tee off at 7:25 a.m. Friday for the third round of the championship.

2015 NCAA Division II Championship – Second Round Results
May 14, 2015 at Allendale, Mich.
(par-72, 6,193-yard The Meadows Golf Club)

Team Results

1.            Indianapolis                                      305-299=604 (+28)

T2.         Central Oklahoma                          312-308=620 (+44)

T2.         Rollins  College                                 306-314=620 (+44)

T4.         Tarleton State                                   320-305=625 (+49)

T4.         Lynn                                                     321-304=625 (+49)

6.            Nova Southeastern                         317-309=626 (+50)

7.            St. Edward’s                                      319-313=632 (+56)

8.            Ashland                                               324-315=639 (+63)

9.            Findlay                                                328-317=645 (+69)

10.          Arkansas Tech                                  325-326=651 (+75)

11.          Augustana                                          334-321=655 (+79)

12.          Sonoma State                                    327-336=663 (+87)

Top-5 Individuals

1.            Brenna Moore (Midwestern State)*                       74-73=147 (+3)

2.            Madison Lellyo (Rollins)                                             70-78=148 (+4)

T3.         Isabell Jimenez Perea (Tarleton State)                 77-73=150 (+6)

T3.         Chanice Young (Indianapolis)                                   76-74=150 (+6)

T3.         Brooke Beegle (Indianapolis)                                   77-73=150 (+6)

*Playing as an individual

NSU Individual

T29.       Baylee Price                      79-79=158 (+14)