UCO women take control in MAIAA Championship, NSU’s Price leads individuals

LAWRENCE, Kan. (April 21) – Central Oklahoma has four players among the top 10 individuals and shaved nine shots off its opening-round score in taking control of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Women’s Golf Championships here Tuesday.
 
The Bronchos shot a 311 to finish two trips around the 6,012-yard, par-72 Alvamar Golf Club (Championship Course) with a 631 total, breaking away from a first-day tie with Northeastern State to build a 13-shot cushion over the RiverHawks and Lindenwood in their quest for a third straight league title. 

Nebraska-Kearney is fourth in the 10-team field at 671 and Central Missouri fifth at 673.  Final-round play begins at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday.
 
"We played a little better today, especially on the par-5s," said head coach Michael Bond, whose team has won nine of 11 tournaments this year.  "We still had some big numbers that hurt us, but we were pretty steady overall and put ourselves in a good position."
 
Marla Souvannasing and Bethany Darrough both shot 76 to lead UCO, which played the par-5s in four-under-par.  Lindsey Bensch added a 79, while Katie Bensch and Daniela Martinez both shot 80.
 
Martinez is second in the medalist standings with a 156 total, two strokes back of NSU’s Baylee Price.  Souvannasing is tied for third at 157, Katie Bensch is sixth at 159 and Darrough is tied for seventh at 160.
 
Souvannasing opened her round with eight straight pars before double bogeying her ninth hole for an outgoing 38 and she equaled that on the back nine with five pars, three bogeys and a birdie.
 
Darrough also shot 38-38 on the day, making 13 pars, three bogeys, one double bogey and a birdie on the par-5 second hole. 

Northeastern State fell back into a tie for second place after shooting 323 in the second round and are now tied with Lindenwood (331-313) at 68-over-par 644. Sophomore Baylee Price, the defending individual champion, remained in first place after shooting 80 in the second round. She holds a two-stroke lead at 10-over 154 (74-80).  
Freshman Alexis Armon is tied for 12th at 21-over 165 (84-81) and junior Charter Lawson is tied for 18th at 24-over 168 (85-83). Freshman Fiona Hakanen sits in solo 36th at 38-over 182 (93-89).

 The RiverHawks will begin teeing off in the final round at 9:20 a.m. Wednesday morning. NSU will be in the final groups with the Bronchos and Lions.
 

2015 MIAA CHAMPIONSHIPS – Second Round Results
April 20, 2015 at Lawrence, Kan.

(par-72, 6,012-yard Alvamar Golf Club Championship Course)

Team Standings

1.        Central Oklahoma                             320-311=631 (+55)

T2.     Northeastern State                         321-323=644 (+68)

           Lindenwood                                      331-313=644 (+68)

4.        Nebraska-Kearney                            338-333=671 (+95)

5.        Central Missouri                                347-326=673 (+97)

6.        Missouri Western State                    348-335=683 (+107)

7.        Northwest Missouri State                358-339=697 (+121)

8.        Fort Hays State                                  378-360=738 (+162)

9.        Southwest Baptist                             388-363=751 (+175)

10.     Lincoln                                               375-378=753 (+177)

Top-5 Standings

1.       Baylee Price (Northeastern State)          74-80=154 (+10)

2.        Daniela Martinez (Central Oklahoma)          76-80=156 (+12)

T3.     Kayla Schroeder (Northeastern State)   78-79=157 (+13)

Alanna Haynes (Lindenwood)                      81-76=157 (+13)

Marla Souvannasing (Central Oklahoma)    81-76=157 (+13)