Wood, OCU win Grace Shin Invitational, host UCO takes second
EDMOND, Okla. – Taking three of the top four spots including a vicory by Paige Wood, Oklahoma City University rolled to a 27-shot victory over host Central Oklahoma in the Grace Shin Invitational on Tuesday at the Golf Club of Edmond.
The Stars, ranked No. 1 in the NAIA according to the Women’s Golf Coaches Association, conclude the fall season with three wins in four events. OCU’s Paige Wood took her second career win.
Oklahoma City golfers held the top two spots, three of the top four places and four finished among the top five. The Stars’ Maddi Kamas grabbed second place, while Natalie Gough snagged fourth. Jamie Welsh tied for fifth place.
OCU posted a 284-296–580 on the par-71, 5,829-yard course. The Stars finished 27 strokes ahead of second-place Central Oklahoma and 32 shots in front of third-place Missouri Western State. OCU’s Blue team carded a 306-321–627 to tie for fifth and finish ahead of three teams.
Wood, a sophomore from McKinney, Texas, became the only player in the field at even par. Wood delivered a 71-71–142, finishing with five birdies and one of two eagles in the tournament. Wood came up with birdies on two of her last four holes.
On her next to last hole, Wood drained a 35-foot downhill putt with four feet of break on No. 18. She recovered after pulling her tee shot on the 18th hole. Wood secured the win by making par on No. 1. Wood previously won the Las Vegas Shootout on Feb. 21-22 in Boulder City, Nev.
Kamas produced a 70-74–144. Kamas, a sophomore from Kingfisher, Okla., nailed eight birdies to lead the tournament. Gough forged a 70-77–147. Gough, a senior from Bixby, Okla., knocked in six birdies Monday and Tuesday.
Four golfers in OCU’s lineup finished among the top 10. Morgan Palermo, a sophomore from Parker, Colo., turned in a 73-78–151 while sinking four birdies and tying for ninth place. MaKayla Tyrrell, a freshman from Southlake, Texas, contributed a 78-74–152, which tied for 13th. Tyrrell made four birdies.
Welsh, a sophomore from Coppell, Texas, topped the OCU Blue team with a 75-75–150. Welsh notched five birdies. Logan Allen, a freshman from Las Vegas, supplied the Stars with a 76-78–154, which tied for 18th.
OCU’s Meghan Charles recorded an 81-78–159, while Aubrey House shot a 74-93–167. Carrie Bowers had a 91-90–181.
Central Oklahoma shot a 303 on Tuesday, following up its 304 from Monday’s first round. Jirasuda Khunarak and Madison O’Dell led the Bronchos, with both posting scores of 150 for the tournament. They tied for fifth place in the individual standings.
Emma Shelley tied for 18th place four shots back with a 154. Mika Ramos was Central’s fourth score with a 157.
Arin Zachary shot a 158 for the tournament and Nanya Hinsui, who competed individually, posted a 163.
Khunarak followed Monday’s 7-over 78 with a 1-over 72 on Tuesday. The junior from Thailand played the front nine even par. She birdied the par-4 fifth hole before bogeying No. 8. Khunrak played the back nine 1-over. She hit 15 pars on Tuesday’s final round.
O’Dell was 2-over par making the turn before hitting a rough patch. She played 10, 11 and 12 6-over-par but sank an eagle from around 60 yards out on the par-4 13th. O’Dell also birdied 16 before finishing the round 6-over 77.
Shelley followed Monday’s 78 with a 76 on Tuesday that included a pair of birdies. Ramos posted rounds of 79 and 78 and had one birdie on Tuesday. Zachary shot a 75 on Monday before posting 83 on Tuesday. Hinsui improved from her 86 on Monday with a 77 on Tuesday.
Central Oklahoma will wrap up its four tournaments in four weeks stretch next week with the National Preview in Eureka, Missouri.
SWOSU took home fourth place. SWOSU sent seven players to the event and the highest performer played as an individual. Ashlyn Acosta finished the two rounds at +10 and T13. She accumulated six birdies during her play, which was tied for third highest at the event.
The highest finisher that competed for SWOSU’s team was Rebecca Lau. She shot rounds of 76-76 to finish at 10-over. Freshman Faustina Pergolini had the best tournament of her Bulldog career, coming in right behind Acosta and Lau, finishing 11 over and T16.