UCO’s Neidy is Player of Year, NSU’s Price named Freshman of the Year
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A dominating season led to a dominant showing by Central Oklahoma in the All-Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Women’s Golf Team that was released Tuesday by the league office.
The Bronchos put two players on the first-team squad and two more on the second-team unit, with Taylor Neidy claiming Player of the Year honors and Michael Bond Coach of the Year laurels.
Bethany Darrough joined Neidy on the first team, while Aly Seng and June Tigert were both second-team selections.
Bond, who earned the coaching honor for the second straight year, has led UCO to five titles and two runner-up finishes in 10 tournaments this season. The Bronchos captured their second consecutive league championship last week and go to Lake Elmo, Minn. next week for the NCAA Division II Central Regional.
Neidy, a senior from Clinton in her fourth year as a starter, has a 76.3 scoring average for the year. She’s finished in the top seven in all 10 tournaments this year with one win and three runner-up placings.
Darrough is second on the team with a 77.7 average and the Kingfisher junior has placed in the top 10 in seven tournaments with two titles.
Seng, a senior from Enid, also has seven top-10 finishes this year and carries a 79.1 average. Tigert carries a 79.3 average and the Mustang sophomore has placed in the top 10 four times.
Baylee Price headlined a list of three members of the Northeastern State women’s golf team who earned postseason recognition.
The Broken Arrow, Okla., native was honored as the 2014 MIAA Freshman of the Year, and she was joined by fellow freshman Sofia Castiello on the All-MIAA First Team. Junior Arizona Chin landed on the All-MIAA Second Team, and the postseason honors were the first for all three players.
Price, who recently won the 2014 MIAA tournament championship and helped NSU finish second as a team at the conference event, became the second-straight RiverHawk to be named freshman of the year. Former NSU women’s golfer McCandren Lewis picked up the accolade last season. Price has registered two tournaments victories this season and owns seven top-10 finishes in 10 events.
Castiello, a Guadalajara, Mexico native, finished runner-up at the MIAA Championship behind Price and has six top-10 finishes of her own.
Chin, a native of Melbourne, Australia, was forced to sit out last season due to injury and is still rounding into form. She owns three top-15 finishes this season and has also placed inside the top 10 in two of her last three events.
Northeastern State has set its sights on NCAA competition, as the RiverHawks will tackle the Tartan Park Golf Course in Lake Elmo, Minn., May 4-6 in the 2014 NCAA Central Super Regional.
2014 MIAA WOMEN’S GOLF ALL-CONFERENCE AWARDS
MIAA Golfer of the Year: Taylor Neidy, Central Oklahoma
MIAA Freshman of the Year: Baylee Price, Northeastern State
MIAA Coach of the Year: Michael Bond, Central Oklahoma
2014 ALL-MIAA FIRST TEAM
Taylor Neidy, Central Oklahoma
Baylee Price, Northeastern State
Bethany Darrough, Central Oklahoma
Madelyn Piccinni, Lindenwood
Sofia Castiello, Northeastern State
2014 ALL-MIAA SECOND TEAM
Aly Seng, Central Oklahoma
June Tigert, Central Oklahoma
Kelly Welker, Central Missouri
Cassie Lowell, Northwest Missouri State
Arizona Chin, Northeastern State