#24 Women's Golf 4/20/2019 11:39:00 PM

OCU collects SAC championship

Eldredge takes conference individual title

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City University secured the 12-shot win in the Sooner Athletic Conference women's golf championships Saturday at Lincoln Park Golf Course.
The Stars, ranked 17th in the NAIA, rallied from two strokes down entering the final round to capture their 16th SAC title and seventh league championship in eight years. Melissa Eldredge of OCU became the SAC individual champion.
Oklahoma City accumulated a 305-296–601, while Wayland Baptist (Texas) took second place with a 303-310–613. Southwestern Christian (313-310–623) and 11th-ranked Texas Wesleyan (314-309–623) finished tied for third place.
Eldredge, a junior from Eufaula, Okla., forged the winning score with a 71-71–142. Eldredge led the field with nine birdies and buried five Saturday. She overcame a two-shot deficit on the back nine to grab the individual crown by one stroke over Chante Van Zyl of Wayland Baptist.
Marty McCauley guided OCU to a conference crown for the seventh time in his ninth year as head coach. The Stars won for the third time in nine events this season. OCU enters the NAIA Championships on May 14-17 at Lincoln Park Golf Course seeking its ninth national title. The Stars played at Lincoln Park for the third time this season.
"I don't think I have ever been prouder of a team," McCauley said. "We have certainly struggled some this year, and to see our vast improvements over the past few weeks speaks volumes about how hard the girls have worked. We know that we still have a lot of work to do before nationals, but this is very, very encouraging."
OCU and Wayland Baptist had two all-tournament performers each. Texas Wesleyan's Elena Sinde Romero, Oklahoma City's Natalie Gough, Southwestern Christian's Brittany Boles and Wayland Baptist's Summer Pearson joined Eldredge and Van Zyl among the top five finishers to earn all-tournament. Eldredge and Romero took all-tournament in the SAC Championships for the second year in a row.
Van Zyl assumed a two-shot lead by hammering in an eagle on the par-5, 503-yard 13th hole. Eldredge made up the deficit as she closed her round with a birdie on No. 15 and making par the rest of the way. Van Zyl posted a 71-72–143 and seven birdies.
Gough and Pearson led the tournament field by making par 26 times on 36 holes. Gough, a freshman from Bixby, Okla., delivered a 76-73–149 and three birdies.
Loren Matrone tied for eighth for OCU playing as an individual. Matrone, a sophomore from Frisco, Texas, reeled in a 79-75–154 while making par 25 times.
Lauren Behnken supplied the Stars with a 76-79–155 to tie for 11th with Regan McQuaid. McQuaid, a senior from Tulsa, Okla., compiled a 74-81–155 competing unattached. Behnken, a freshman from Tulsa, Okla., and McQuaid each made par on 23 holes.
Lauryn Pritchard provided OCU an 82-76–158, which put her 17th. Pritchard, a freshman from Allen, Texas, turned in three birdies.
Clair Hill and McKenzie McCoy shared 20th place. McCoy, a sophomore from Beggs, Okla., put together an 83-76–159 and 22 par scores. Hill, a sophomore from Gig Harbor, Wash., completed the tournament with an 82-77–159 and six birdies playing as an individual.
The Stars' Rachel Eckert, a freshman from Bixby, Okla., carded an 83-78–161, and Arianna Medina, a sophomore from Phoenix, had an 86-81–167 as each played unattached.

TOURNAMENT AWARDS
Medalist
Melissa Eldredge, Oklahoma City
All-tournament
Chante Van Zyl, Wayland Baptist
Elena Sinde Romero, Texas Wesleyan
Natalie Gough, Oklahoma City
Brittany Boles, Southwestern Christian
Summer Pearson, Wayland Baptist

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Players Mentioned

Melissa Eldredge: 5' 6"; Junior

Clair Hill: 5' 6"; Sophomore

Loren Matrone: 5' 4"; Sophomore

McKenzie McCoy: 5' 6"; Sophomore

Regan McQuaid: 5' 8"; Senior

Arianna Medina: 5' 6"; Sophomore

Lauren Behnken: 5' 6"; Freshman

Rachel Eckert: 5' 4"; Freshman

Lauryn Pritchard: 5' 6"; Freshman

Natalie Gough: 5' 7"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

Melissa Eldredge
: 5' 6"; Junior

Clair Hill
: 5' 6"; Sophomore

Loren Matrone
: 5' 4"; Sophomore

McKenzie McCoy
: 5' 6"; Sophomore

Regan McQuaid
: 5' 8"; Senior

Arianna Medina
: 5' 6"; Sophomore

Lauren Behnken
: 5' 6"; Freshman

Rachel Eckert
: 5' 4"; Freshman

Lauryn Pritchard
: 5' 6"; Freshman

Natalie Gough
: 5' 7"; Freshman