Young Sooners struggle in Schooner Fall Classic
NORMAN, Okla. — The 16th-ranked University of Oklahoma women’s golf team finished the second round of the Schooner Fall Classic tied for 16th place Sunday in Norman. The event, which will conclude Monday, is being played at the 6,082-yard, par-70 Belmar Golf Club.
The Sooners, who shot a 16-over in the first round of the tournament, improved with an 11-over 291 Sunday for a two-day 587 (+27). No. 14 Mississippi State, the only team under par for the tournament, finished the day in first place at 10 under. Kent State is in second place at 1 over par and No. 6 Arkansas is in third at 2 over.
OU sophomore Alexandra Kaui improved upon her Saturday score by two strokes, shooting a second-round 70 (E) for a two-round 142 (+2). Kaui recorded three birdies Sunday and is tied for 22nd place out of 91 competitors.
“I don’t feel like there was anything that went better for me than yesterday, I just was able to handle my misses better today,” Kaui said. “I had birdies today, which helped me out a lot and I hit a few better shots. My pace was off and I lost some shots there, but overall I was pretty consistent.”
Also tied for 22nd place is OU freshman Hannah Wood who shot OU’s only under-par round Saturday. Wood was at even par in her second round before bogeying three of her last four holes to finish with a 73 (+3).
Sooner Ana Ruiz also shot a second-round 73 and is tied for 58th place at 147 (+7). The freshman had three bogeys in her first four holes before parring the last 14.
OU sophomore Maggie Neece and freshman Rylee Pedigo improved tremendously in the second round. Neece, who shot a first-round 81 (+11), recorded a day-two 76 (+6) and is in 85th place at +17. Pedigo registered a 75 (+5) in the second round, 10 strokes better than her first-round score. She is tied for 87th place.
Sophomore Amanda Johnson and redshirt freshman Haley Hill are playing as individuals in the event and are unattached from team scoring. Johnson is in 90th place with a two-round 168 (+28), while Hill is in 91st place with a 173 (+33). Hill’s second-round 83 was seven strokes better than her Saturday score.
Sixth-year OU head coach Veronique Drouin-Luttrell acknowledged her young team improved from the first round.
“We’re playing a little bit better,” Drouin-Luttrell said. “We made some good saves for par. We just have to work on our short game a little bit more. I think we’re close, but we have to get a little more sharp around the greens.”
The Sooners will tee off at 10:00 a.m. CT for the third and final round of the Schooner Fall Classic. Live stats are available here.