DENTON, Texas (May 4, 2021) – Needing to start climbing the standings and closing the gap on its opponents in the NCAA Division II West Super Regional, Oklahoma Christian did both on Tuesday at Wildhorse Golf Club at Robson Ranch.
OC posted the second-lowest team score of the day, a 302, and moved up a spot into fourth place on the tournament's second day. With one round remaining, the Eagles have a cumulative team score of 606, six shots out of third place – important because the top three teams in the nine-team field will advance to the NCAA Division II Championship later this month.
St. Mary's (Texas) had the day's lowest round at 298. The Rattlers, with a team score of 587, extended their overall lead to 12 shots over West Texas A&M. The host school, No. 1-ranked Dallas Baptist (Texas), was third at 600. OC was one shot ahead of fifth-place Texas A&M-Commerce, with Arkansas-Fort Smith another 11 shots back at 618.
Sofia Ruescas of St. Mary's remained in the individual lead at 141 (3-under-par) after shooting a 1-over-par 73. She was two shots ahead of OC freshman
Camilla Jarvela of Espoo, Finland, who had three birdies – including two over her final four holes – en route to a 72 that put her at 143 (1-under). Jarvela was three shots clear of third-place Estelle Beck of St. Mary's.
Outside of Jarvela, the rest of the Eagles combined for only one birdie, but they also limited their bogeys, helping keep the team score down.
OC senior
Abigail Rigsby of Courtenay, British Columbia, posted her second straight 77 and was tied for 23rd in the 48-woman field at 154. Junior
Shaley Goad of Wheeler, Texas, was another shot back, tied for 25th after shooting a 75, a five-shot improvement over her first-round score.
Also tied for 25th was OC freshman
Wilma Merenmies of Jyvaskyla, Finland, after shooting a 78. Sophomore
Alexandria Bennett of Plano, Texas, was tied for 40th at 162 after firing an 83.
The Eagles will be grouped with Texas A&M-Commerce and Arkansas-Fort Smith during the final round, with tee times starting at 8:30 a.m. on hole No. 1. In addition to the top three teams advancing, the top three individual finishers not on one of those teams also will qualify for the field for the Division II Championship.
