Women's Golf 4/3/2023 6:29:00 PM Chris Brannick

UCO Finishes Fifth In Kansas

NEWTON, Kan. – Central Oklahoma posted its best 36-hole score of the season and it was good for a fifth-place finish Monday at the runaway scoring Newman Spring Invitational.

Sand Creek Station was the sight of the tournament, which played both first and second rounds Monday due to high winds expected on Tuesday. There were 10 players that shot under par and the winner, Rogers State's Ellen Loving, shot a blistering 12-under par to win the individual title.

UCO posted a 36-hole 593 (299-294) to finish fifth. The two rounds are the two lowest scores of the season for the Bronchos. Jirasuda Khunarak led UCO with a 1-over-par 145 and finished 11th in the individual standings. Mika Ramos was two shots back at 3-over 147 for the tournament.

"We played really well today, but sometimes that's how it goes," UCO head women's golf coach Michael Bond said. "In golf, you can play the best round of your life but someone else can still beat you. We played well and we're hoping to build off of that as we head down the stretch of our season."

Henderson State won the team title with a 26-under-par 550. HSU's counting scores were 10-under, 6-under, 6-under, and 2-under with all four in the top eight of the standings.

Khunarak started her day with five straight pars before sinking a birdie putt on No. 9. She was even through nine holes of golf and finished the first 18 1-over. She posted an even-par 72 in the second round. Khunarak sank 21 par putts and seven birdie putts in the tournament.

Ramos played the first round even-par and had a string of eight-straight pars in the second round before settling in at 3-over for the tournament. She sank 24 par putts and five birdies on the day.

Madison O'Dell also had a Top 20 finish in the tournament. The senior posted a 6-over-par 150 to finish tied for 20th in the individual standings. O'Dell started her day with five consecutive par putts before a hiccup on the back nine left her 5-over in the first round. She hit four birdies in the second round, playing 1-over to finish the day.

Emma Shelley was just one shot back and finished tied for 24th with her 7-over 151. Shelley also posted a 5-over-par 77 in Round 1 before registering a 2-over in the second round.

Arin Zachary also competed for the Bronchos on Monday and finished the day 22-over at 166. She played the first round 9-over-par and the second round 13-over.

Central Oklahoma has just one more tournament in the regular season and that's next weekend in Joplin, Missouri. The Bronchos are playing at Missouri Southern's Dr. Virginia Laas Classic, which will be contested at Eagle Creek in Joplin. That is also the sight of the 2023 MIAA Women's Golf Championship April 24-26.

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Players Mentioned

Madison O'Dell: 5' 9"; Senior

Mika Ramos: 5' 0"; Junior

Emma Shelley: 5' 5"; Junior

Arin Zachary: 5' 8"; Junior

Jirasuda Khunarak: 5' 6"; Junior

Players Mentioned

Madison O'Dell
: 5' 9"; Senior

Mika Ramos
: 5' 0"; Junior

Emma Shelley
: 5' 5"; Junior

Arin Zachary
: 5' 8"; Junior

Jirasuda Khunarak
: 5' 6"; Junior