UCO Grabs First-Day Lead In MIAA Tourney

BARTLESVILLE, Okla. (April 22) – Central Oklahoma put three players among the top 10 individuals in taking control of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Women's Golf Championships Thursday.

The Bronchos shot rounds of 302-310 for a 612 total after two trips around the 5,921-yard, par-72 Hillcrest Country Club, leaving them with an 11-shot lead of Rogers State.

Central Missouri is third in the 11-team event at 626, followed by Northeastern State (629) and Missouri Western (646). Final-round play is scheduled to start at 8 a.m. Friday, weather permitting.

Susana Olivares paced UCO in first-day play, shooting 72-74 for a 146 total that has her second in the individual standings. Sydney Roberts is fifth after rounds of 78-76=154 and Emma Shelley is tied for sixth at 155 (76-79).

Emily Miller is tied for 11th with a 157 total after shooting 76-81, while Madison O'Dell shot 88-83.

"We played pretty well today and put ourselves in good position," said head coach Michael Bond, whose team is attempting to end NSU's string of four straight league titles. "We made a few mistakes, but stayed focused and did a great job coming back from those.

"There's still a long ways to go and we'll have to play well tomorrow."

Olivares overcame a back-nine triple bogey in shooting an opening-round 72.

The MIAA Freshman of the Year winner was two-under after birdieing the par-5 10th, then bogeyed No. 12 and tripled No. 14 in dropping to two-over. Olivares responded in style with birdies on the par-4 15th and par-4 17th to get back to polish off the even-par round.

Olivares started the afternoon round with 10 straight pars, then had two bogeys and six more pars down the stretch in carding a 74. She trails Rogers State's Mariana Flores by one shot in the individual race.

Roberts opened first-round play with an up-and-down front nine, shooting 39 with three pars, three bogeys, two birdies and a double bogey. She came back with another 39 that featured six pars and three bogeys.

The senior standout had a third straight 39 on the front nine in the afternoon before finishing the day with a steady one-over 37 for the 76 that leaves her fifth in the standings.

Shelley bogeyed two of the first three holes to start first-round play, but was one-under over her next seven holes in making the turn at one-over 37. The freshman carded six pars and three bogeys on the back nine for a 39 and an opening 76.

She got off to a rough start in the afternoon and was four-over after five holes before going three-over on the last 13 in finishing with a 79.

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Players Mentioned

Madison O'Dell: 5' 9"; Sophomore

Susana Olivares: 5' 1"; Freshman

Sydney Roberts: 5' 1"; Senior

Emma Shelley: 5' 5"; Freshman

Emily Miller: 5' 4"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

Madison O'Dell
: 5' 9"; Sophomore

Susana Olivares
: 5' 1"; Freshman

Sydney Roberts
: 5' 1"; Senior

Emma Shelley
: 5' 5"; Freshman

Emily Miller
: 5' 4"; Freshman