Women's Golf 5/5/2023 10:42:00 AM Chris Brannick

UCO Heads North For NCAA Regional Championships

LARCHWOOD, Iowa – Central Oklahoma begins the 2023 NCAA Division II Regional Championships Monday at Grand Falls Resort with the 54-hole tournament running through Wednesday.

UCO earned an at-large bid to the Central Regional with eight other teams that will compete in three days of golf for a spot at the NCAA Division II National Championships in Eureka, Missouri May 16-20. The top three teams in the regional will advance to nationals. The top two individuals not on an advancing team will also move on to nationals. The Central Regional Championship consists of nine teams and six individuals from the MIAA, the Great American Conference, and the Northern Sun. Henderson State, Central Missouri, Rogers State, Augustana, Northeastern State, Nebraska Kearney, UCO, Harding and Missouri Western make up the teams competing next week.

"We're looking forward to a great tournament," UCO head women's golf coach Michael Bond said. "It's going to be a tough field like you should expect at this point in the season. We're thankful to still be playing and we are looking forward to getting to the course and seeing what can happen."

Bond is leading the Bronchos for the 15th season. He has 32 all-time wins, including two regional titles, and has finished in the Top 5 at a tournament 126 times.

This season, UCO finished in the Top 10 in nine tournaments and the Top 5 three times.

Jirasuda Khunarak led the Bronchos during the regular season with a 77.3 scoring average. The junior from Thailand finished tied for fifth at the Grace Shin Invitational for her best finish of the season. Khunarak has two Top 10 finishes and six Top 20 finishes.

Mika Ramos wasn't far off the team lead in scoring average, coming in at 77.6 per round. She also finished tied for fifth for her best finish of the season. That came at the Emerald Coast Classic in Florida in March. Ramos has three Top 10 finishes and five Top 20 finishes.

Emma Shelley and Madison O'Dell were also within a half-shot average of each other this season. Shelley has a 79.0 scoring average and O'Dell has a 79.5 average. O'Dell finished tied for fifth alongside Khunarak at the Grace Shin Invitational in October for her best finish of the year. Shelley tied for 16th at the Lady Tiger Classic in Kansas back in September for her best finish.

Arin Zachary played in all but one tournament this season and has an 82.5 scoring average with a T26 best finish this season.

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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