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The Eagles’ golf team pulled through a rough start to win the regional title and each Lady Eagle placed in the top 15 at the National Christian Collegiate Athletic Association Central Region Championship.
The men’s team struggled on the first day, as they completed round one with a score of 596 points, placing them in third behind Dallas Baptist University and Central Baptist College. The next day the upperclassmen and the freshman rallied together and finished three points ahead of Dallas Baptist and seven points ahead of Central Baptist.
Golf Director and Men’s Head Coach David Lynn expected a strong response from the team after the first day’s performance, and they did not let him down.
“We had to have a great round today to win and our upperclassmen pulled through and led us to victory,” Lynn said. “Sam [Johnston] had a solid week finishing second individually and freshman Zac Schaefer played very solid shooting – four for the three rounds.”
The tournament started on Sept. 22 at the Owasso Golf and Athletic Club in Owasso, Kansas and finished the next day, Sept. 23.
Senior Jared Consoli said he had a confident mentality and high expectations for the team coming into the tournament.
“This last tournament was 18 teams, but this one there’s only six teams so it’s not as hard of competition,” Consoli said. “We’ve got a pretty good team so we should win.”
Fellow senior Trey Payne agreed with Consoli and said that their biggest competition would be playing against one another.
“If we go out there and play our game I feel like we can win any tournament,” Payne said. “If we play up to our standards then we should be fine, but if we go out there and play poorly, anyone can sneak up behind us and grab it.”
In the end it was the Eagles who snuck up from behind to grab the title.
Junior Sam Johnston led the Eagles and shot 70, 70 and 67 over the three-round tournament for a total score of 207 and a second place finish in the 46-man field. Freshman Zac Schaefer (67-73-72) finished in the top 10 as well with a tie for eighth place at 212 points.
Consoli became continuously more accurate as he shot 74, 72, and 68 to finish in a tie for 11th place at 214 points. Payne also decreased his score consistently, shooting 75 and 73 on the first day, then 70 on the second to tie for 17th place with 218 total points.
The scoring team was rounded out by freshman Asher Owen who finished in a tie for 32nd place at 228 points after shooting 74, 69 and 85 throughout the tournament. Freshman Chase Espazra (78-71-72) played in the individual category and finished in 23rd with 221 points.
“We have some things to work on,” Lynn said. “But this week we want to savor the championship.”
The Eagles finished with an overall score of 846 points, and because they won the regional championship they have an automatic bid to the NCCAA Championship in Panama City Beach, Florida in October.
The Lady Eagles were two shots behind their Heartland Conference rival, Dallas Baptist, at the end of the first day, and hung on to finish second place in the tournament.
“The girls played very well,” Lynn said. “They ran into a bit of a buzz saw in Dallas Baptist this week [but I’ve] got to give them a lot of credit. They played great and shot close to even for the tournament, which is fantastic.”
In the days prior to the tournament, Women’s Head Coach Greg Lynn prepared his team for anything, and anyone, who might be competition in this championship.
“Dallas Baptist is coming in [and] they’re always good so they will be tough to beat,” Greg said. “If you’re prepared then you can do well, but if you’re not prepared you’re not gonna go out there and find your game. It doesn’t happen.”
The Lady Eagles proved that they were prepared for the challenge by finishing all of their players in the top-15 out of the 31-woman field.
Junior Audrey Meisch led the Oklahoma Christian with a 73 on the first day and a 70 on the second, tying her for second place with 143 points. This is the first time this season Meisch has led the team.
Sophomore Allison Sell finished in fifth place after hitting 73 and 75, and was closely followed by senior Anna Arrese Cortadellas (74-75) who almost matched Sell’s hits and finished in sixth place.
Senior Catherine Odgers posted 76s in both rounds and tied for seventh place with 152 points. Sophomore India Matthews rounded out the Lady Eagles in a tie for 14th place after she hit a 76 and an 80 over the two-day tournament.
The Eagles and Lady Eagles continue their season on Oct. 6 and 7 with the Eagles at the Rolling Hills Country Club in Wichita, Kansas and the Lady Eagles at Lincoln Park Golf Club’s East Course in Oklahoma City.
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