OKLAHOMA CITY – The NAIA's top three teams, including top-ranked Oklahoma City University, compete on the same course in the Sydney Cox Invitational on Monday and Tuesday at Lincoln Park Golf Course.

Oklahoma City, ranked No. 1 in NAIA women's golf, squares off with second-ranked Dalton State (Ga.) and third-ranked Texas Wesleyan. The 54-hole tournament tees off 8:30 a.m. in a shotgun start each day.

Oklahoma City reached the top spot in the NAIA top 25 for the first time since the preseason ranking for the 2017-18 season on Aug. 25, 2017. The Stars lead the NAIA with 46 instances at No. 1 in the national poll. OCU, Dalton State and Texas Wesleyan also hold the top three positions in the first edition of the 2021-22 Golfstat ratings. The Stars took over the No. 1 spot in the Golfstat rankings for the first time in the regular season since 2012-13. The Golfstat rankings measure a team's statistical strength taking into account adjusted scoring average, wins, strength of schedule and comparative record.

In the Stars' last time out, Oklahoma City set a host of team and individual records while winning the Rose Creek Classic on Oct. 4-5 at Rose Creek Golf Club in Edmond, Okla. OCU turned in the top round and No. 1 round against par in program history (16-under-par 272) in the third round, the best 54-hole team total (18-under-par 286-288-272–846) and margin of victory (192 shots). The Stars finished fourth in the NAIA Championships in May at Rose Creek, tying with Dalton State.

OCU had the top nine golfers in the Rose Creek Classic field. The Stars' six individuals atop the tournament standings posted the top six 54-hole scores in OCU history. Reagan Chaney took the individual title with a 70-68-67–205, while Natalie Gough took second with a 70-72-70–212. The Stars' Lauren Behnken (72-71-70–213) and Paige Wood (75-72-66–213) came in third.

The Stars collected their second victory in three events this season. Chaney, a freshman from Ardmore, Okla., owns two wins as well as a 70.75 stroke average in her rookie season. Wood, a freshman from McKinney, Texas, adds a 72.13 scoring average, while Gough, a senior from Bixby, Okla., has contributed 72.63 shots per round in 2021-22.

Sydney Cox holds membership in the NAIA Hall of Fame and the OCU Athletics Hall of Fame, becoming the first women's golfer to gain the recognition from the NAIA. Cox won the 2009 individual national championship and became a three-time NAIA all-American while contributing to four national championships for Oklahoma City from 2005-09. 

Lincoln Park hosted the 2019 NAIA women's golf championships and will once again serve as the site of the NAIA Championships on May 24-27, 2022. Lincoln Park rates as one of Oklahoma's finest public golf courses. Oklahoma City's oldest public golf course unveiled its new state-of-the-art $9.25 million club house in spring 2015. The course was designed by Art Jackson and built in 1923. It features bent grass on the greens and Bermuda grass on the fairways.

The Stars have captured eight national championships in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014 and 2017. 

Conditions at the course Monday and Tuesday are expected to include high temperatures in the upper 70s and lower 80s and winds 15-20 mph. The chance for rain Tuesday rises to 50-55 percent.
 
SYDNEY COX INVITATIONAL 
Monday-Tuesday 
At Oklahoma City 
Lincoln Park Golf Course, 4001 NE Grand Blvd. 
NAIA rank, Team (Golfstat rank) 
No. 4 Oklahoma City (No. 1) 
No. 2 Dalton State (Ga.) (No. 3) 
No. 13 Texas Wesleyan (No. 2) 
Bellevue (Neb.)  
Oklahoma Wesleyan 
Southwestern Christian  
Sterling (Kan.) 
Wayland Baptist (Texas) 
Redlands (x-No. 5) 
McLennan (Texas) (x-No. 6) 
x-Golfstat ranking among NJCAA