Women's Golf 9/25/2023 5:33:00 PM Chris Brannick

UCO Is Fifth At Regional Preview

BARTLESVILLE, Okla. – Central Oklahoma is fifth in the team standings at the halfway point of the 2023-24 Regional Preview, hosted by Rogers State at Hillcrest Country Club.

The Bronchos posted a 303 on Monday after one trip around the 5,928-yard par-72 course. Henderson State leads the field after one round, shooting a 1-under-par 287. Central Missouri (290), Northeastern State (297), and Augustana (298) are also in the top five in front of the Bronchos.

SEE COMPLETE RESULTS HERE

Jirasuda Khunarak opened with a 3-over-par 75 Monday and is tied for 17th individually in the tournament. Mika Ramos, Scarlet Sturch and Emma Shelley all opened with a 4-over 76 and all three are tied for 24th individually. Estela Castillo (83) is also in the UCO lineup. Drew Faires (81) is playing as an individual.

All six Bronchos started on the back nine and Khunarak started strong, sinking par putts on each of her first seven holes. After a bogey on 17, she was still at 1-over going to No. 3. There she sank her only birdie of the day before reeling off four more pars to go to her final two holes at even-par. Khunarak doubled No. 8 and bogeyed No. 9 to finish at 3-over.

Ramos got it going and played the back nine even-par, sinking seven par putts. She bogeyed No. 14, but sank a birdie on No. 18 to get back to even. Ramos sank one more birdie putt on the day playing the front nine 4-over.

Sturch, playing in just her second career tournament, started the day with a birdie on 10. She followed with a double on 11, then after a par on 12, birdied 13 to get back to even-par. Then she caught a snag and tripled No. 14, however, the freshman rattled off 12 consecutive pars after that. She ended the day with a bogey on the ninth hole to finish 4-over.

Shelley, whose home course is Hillcrest, started the day off with a couple of pars before a double bogey on 12. That sparked a run of eight-straight par putts for the fifth-year senior. She also sank birdie putts on Nos. 4 & 7 Monday afternoon.

Castillo got off to a good start with four consecutive pars, but she played 14-16 6-over. A birdie on 17 helped her get back on track and she followed with four more pars. She finished her day sinking 10 par putts.

Faires put in four par putts on the back nine and five more on the front nine to finish the day at 9-over-par. Monday marked her first round in a Broncho uniform.

Final round play begins Tuesday morning with tee times starting at 9 a.m.

Rogers State is hosting the NCAA Division II Central Regional Championships at Hillcrest in May.

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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

Drew Faires: 5' 5"; Junior

Scarlet Sturch: 5' 7"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

Jirasuda Khunarak
: 5' 6"; Senior

Mika Ramos
: 5' 0"; Senior

Emma Shelley
: 5' 5"; Senior

Estela Castillo
: 5' 5"; Freshman

Drew Faires
: 5' 5"; Junior

Scarlet Sturch
: 5' 7"; Freshman