INDIANAPOLIS (April 1, 2021) – The recent surge of success for Oklahoma Christian's women's golf team hasn't gone unnoticed in important places, as evidenced Thursday in the first NCAA Division II regional ranking for spring 2021.
OC – fresh off a pair of strong tournament performances – appeared at No. 2 in the ranking, the final version of which will determine the qualifiers for the Division II West Super Regional tournament, the first step of the NCAA's postseason.
The Eagles trailed only the consensus No. 1 team in Division II, Lone Star Conference rival Dallas Baptist (Texas), in the West regional ranking.
In OC's last two tournaments, the Eagles won the Midwestern State Invitational at Wichita Falls Country Club in Wichita Falls, Texas, and finished second behind Dallas Baptist in the Lion Invitational at Trophy Club Country Club in Trophy Club, Texas. In both events, OC finished ahead of teams currently ranked in the current Division II coaches' poll and in the latter tournament, the Eagles closed fast, posting a lower score than DBU in the final round.
In the NCAA regional ranking, LSC teams occupied the top four spots, with Texas A&M-Commerce and St. Mary's (Texas) following OC. The rest of the 11-team ranking, in order, included Point Loma Nazarene (Calif.), West Texas A&M, Arkansas-Fort Smith, Biola (Calif.), Midwestern State (Texas), Texas A&M International and Cameron. All but the California schools are in the LSC.
The ranking will be updated on April 8 and April 15 before the final ranking is issued on April 26. The top nine teams – and four individuals not on those nine teams – will play in the West Super Regional, set for May 3-5 at Wildhorse Golf Club at Robson Ranch in Denton, Texas.
The top three teams from each of four Super Regional tournaments will advance to the NCAA Division II Championship, set for May 11-15 at TPC Michigan in Detroit. OC qualified for the national event when it last was held in 2019.
OC has two more tournaments remaining before the NCAA postseason. The Eagles will play Friday and Saturday in the Palm Valley Classic at Palm Valley Golf Club in Goodyear, Ariz., and on April 12-14 in the LSC Championship at Texas Rangers Golf Club in Arlington, Texas.
