OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City University had the top four individuals in the Sooner Athletic Conference Women's Golf Championships as the Stars picked up their seventh conference championship in a row Tuesday at Lincoln Park Golf Course.
Laura Jones brought home the SAC individual championship as the top-ranked four-time defending NAIA champion Stars won by 59 strokes over 12th-ranked Lubbock Christian (Texas).
The Stars gained one of 21 automatic berths into the NAIA Championships on May 12-15 at Meadowbrook Golf Course in Rapid City, S.D. OCU shot a season-low round Tuesday as part of a 297-284–581 performance.
OCU coach M.J. Desbiens garnered SAC coach of the year. Temperatures were in the 70s with light winds on the par-72, 6,102-yard course.
“I'm ecstatic,” Desbiens said. “I knew we played well today. Everybody put it together today. It's that important to them to shoot that low and reach their goal of shooting lower than they have this season. It shows team unity. We are mentally ready for nationals.”
Jones, a sophomore from Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, England, carded 72-69–141 to beat teammate and defending SAC champion Ashley Sholer by four strokes. Sholer, a senior from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, recorded a 74-71–145.
Jones sank birdies on the fifth, eighth, 10th, 14th and 16th holes Tuesday. Nos. 5 and 16 are par-5. Sholer birdied 8, 9 and 18.
“She's somebody I'm very proud of with the mental toughness she displayed these two days,” Desbiens said of Jones. “She's reached a turning point in her maturity and career that she can beat adversity.
“It's to be expected that Ashley shoots those scores. She's capable of shooting par or lower.”
OCU's Sydney Cox and Morgan Gay tied for third. Cox, a senior from Edmond, Okla., fired a 77-72–149, while Gay, a junior from Lindsay, Okla., shot 74-75–149. Charlotte Guilleux of Wayland Baptist (Texas) rounded out the all-conference team with a 74-76–150.
Christina Cung of OCU chipped in an 86-72–158. Playing as individuals, Paige Martin of the Stars shot 79-75–154, and Madison Haley had an 83-83–166.
Kelly Rainbolt shot a 76-78–154 to lead Lubbock Christian, which had a 324-316–640. No. 19 Wayland Baptist put together a 329-323–651, and No. 11 Southern Nazarene compiled a 323-330–653. Oklahoma Baptist shot 350-347–697, and Northwestern Oklahoma State carded 352-376–728.
Results
