Women's Golf 9/16/2023 7:46:00 AM Chris Brannick

UCO Opens Season In Texas

DENTON, Texas – Central Oklahoma tees off a new season Sunday morning at the Dallas Baptist Classic, hosted at Robson Ranch.

The 54-hole tournament will run Sunday, Monday, Tuesday. UCO's five-person lineup includes three returning veterans and two newcomers.

"We're excited to get started and play when it counts," UCO head women's golf coach Michael Bond said before the tournament. "We've had a good few weeks leading up to it so now we need to go out and play well and see where we can land."

Making up the lineup is Emma Shelley, Estela Castillo, Mika Ramos, Jirasuda Khunarak, and Scarlett Sturch.

Shelley returns for her fifth year with the Bronchos. The Bartlesville, Oklahoma native is utilizing an eligibility extension from the pandemic, which ended her freshman season early. Shelley has played in 35 career tournaments, 78 rounds, and enters this season with a 78.15 scoring average. She has two career victories to her name too.

Ramos is another returner, entering her senior season with the Bronchos. The Tulsa, Oklahoma native has played in 27 career tournaments, 65 rounds, and has a 78.78 scoring average. Ramos is looking for her first career win this season. She has finished a best sixth, fourth, and fifth in her first three years respectively.

Khunarak is the third Broncho in the lineup back from last year. She played in all 12 tournaments a year ago, 30 rounds, and averaged a 77.30 in her first season at UCO. The Saraburi, Thailand native and junior college transfer is looking to improve on a solid first year, where her best finish was fifth place.

Castillo and Sturch are set to make their UCO debuts Sunday morning in Texas. From Palma, Spain, Castillo brings a powerful and athletic bag to the lineup. Stuch, an Oklahoma standout from Durant, does too. Both figure to be regular contenders this season.

Bond enters his 16th season leading the Central Oklahoma women's golf program. The veteran head coach's squads have finished in the Top 10 161 times, the Top 5 126 times, and UCO has won 32 team titles under his direction.

UCO will play this three-day tournament before getting a Regional Preview at Hillcrest Country Club in Bartlesville Sept. 25-26. The Bronchos are hosting the Grace Shin Invitational Oct. 2-3 at The Golf Club of Edmond. Then Central Oklahoma will visit Central Missouri for the Midwest Classic at Mules National Oct. 16-17. The Bronchos wrap up their fall schedule with The Tulsa Cup, hosted by Rogers State at The Club at Forest Ridge Oct. 23-24.

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Players Mentioned

Jirasuda Khunarak: 5' 6"; Senior

Mika Ramos: 5' 0"; Senior

Emma Shelley: 5' 5"; Senior

Estela Castillo: 5' 5"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

Jirasuda Khunarak
: 5' 6"; Senior

Mika Ramos
: 5' 0"; Senior

Emma Shelley
: 5' 5"; Senior

Estela Castillo
: 5' 5"; Freshman