HORSESHOE BAY, Texas (April 13, 2019) – It's been a successful 2018-19 campaign for Oklahoma Christian's women's golf team, with three team and four individual titles, and coach Greg Lynn would like to keep it going as the schedule takes a turn toward the particularly difficult.

The Heartland Conference Championship, which will begin a three-day run Sunday at Slick Rock Golf Course, figures to be one of the toughest league tournaments in all of NCAA Division II, with four ranked teams, including No. 1 Dallas Baptist (Texas). Competing at that level will be a challenge, but it's one Lynn believes the Eagles are capable of meeting.

"I'm just looking forward to seeing them compete," Lynn said. "During the course of the year, we haven't always played the strongest schedule. We don't always compete against these teams as regularly as the guys do. I think it will be interesting for us to get in the mix with them and see how we do."

OC's squad has posted some impressive numbers this season, both individually and collectively. As a team, the Eagles average team score per round of 301.53 ranks 10th in Division II. Senior Kate Goodwin's average score of 74.47 ranks 29th nationally while junior Abigail Rigsby isn't far behind, in 37th at 74.79. Both players have won two tournaments each this season.

Sophomore Shaley Goad has taken major strides forward this spring, lowering her scoring average to 77.05, putting her 137th nationally. She posted consecutive top-three finishes in the Midwestern State Invitational at Wichita Falls Country Club and Rogers State's Hillcat Classic at Bailey Ranch Golf Club in Owasso, helping the Eagles win the team title in both tournaments.

Senior Elizabeth Freeman of Edmond is coming off her best round of the spring, a final-round 75 in the West Texas Desert Invitational at The Lodge at Ventana Canyon in Tucson, Ariz.

OC's usual No. 5 starter, freshman Alexandria Bennett, is recovering from an injury, opening a spot for sophomore Felicity Wittenberg in the lineup. In four tournaments this season, she's posted a top score of 74, that at Lawton Country Club in the Oklahoma Intercollegiate.

"Felicity certainly has the game," Lynn said. "This gives her another chance to prove herself. If something can click for her, I think she can be a very good player."

Winning the team title will be a major challenge for OC, as Dallas Baptist rarely loses to any team and the Eagles are 0-3 this season against No. 15 St. Mary's (Texas). No. 23 St. Edward's (Texas), against which OC has a 2-1 mark, also will join the Eagles in the Heartland field.

Individually, however, the Eagles could contend for a title. Goodwin won the individual portion of Dallas Baptist's match-play tournament in the fall and is the defending West Super Regional champion, proving she can beat DBU's top players. Rigsby is a former qualifier for the NCAA Division II Championship and knows how to keep herself in contention against tough competition. Goad also has been in the mix for individual honors at times this season.

The important thing for the Eagles will be to lock in for what they hope is a long postseason run. OC's spot in next month's West Super Regional seems secure, as the Eagles were at No. 6 in the most recent regional rankings released Thursday, and the top 12 teams will make the field.

"We're looking forward to putting our best foot forward and seeing what we can do," Lynn said. "It will be difficult to compete to win, but with the three girls we have and the way that they've been playing – all three of them have won or competed to win a tournament this year. The golf course doesn't favor anybody. It's just relatively straightforward and you've just got to make some putts. So if we get hot with the putter, anything is possible."