Successful fall season for men’s and women’s golf

The Oklahoma Christian University men’s and women’s golf teams closed their fall 2018 season with team and individual wins.

Head men’s golf coach David Lynn said he felt his team played steady golf under pressure this fall.

“We did what we needed to do,” Lynn said. “It’s not like we were going out and dusting people. What I love about this group, they love to compete. They don’t shy away from that. It helps when you have depth because three or four different people could step up each day. I think they’re just scratching the surface of their potential. I think they have the ability to go out and beat some people by a lot.”

The men’s program finished their season at the Territory Classic in Duncan, OK Oct. 23, where they defended their tournament title for the second year in a row. Playing from behind, the Eagles rallied on the final day to claim the championship by one shot over St. Mary’s University.

Lynn said their final tournament proved an interesting battle because the Eagles did not have live scoring, so they were unsure of their standing throughout the tournament.

“As a coach, I had no idea where we stood until Trevor [Norby]was in the last spot because he shot the low score on Monday,” Lynn said. “We were paired on the second day with Midwestern [University] and St. Mary’s, both top 20 teams and we were just battling head to head. It came down to the last hole and we didn’t know where Trevor stood and he needed to shoot 3-over for us to win the tournament. He shot 3-over on the number.”

The Eagles currently reside ninth nationally in the Golfstat ranking , which determines placing for regionals in the spring. As they look toward the spring season, Lynn said he has great confidence in his team and their potential.

“I think the most unique characteristic of this particular group is our depth,” Lynn said. “One to five, or really one to six, they’re very good. There’s not a weak link in there. I think this team can do great things. I think they can win tournaments. I think they should be in contention at the conference tournament. I think they should be in contention to win at the regional tournament and I think they will be qualifying for the NCAA Finals.”

The Lady Eagles’ golf team also ended the fall with success. Junior Abigail Rigsby won the Oklahoma Intercollegiate in Lawton, OK Oct. 23, recording her second career playoff win. After the tournament, Rigsby was named both the Heartland Conference Golfer of the Week and the Eagle of the Week.

“After rebuilding for a second year, and struggling with some mental game issues on the golf course this year, it was nice to have two good rounds,” Rigsby said. “The first round of the tournament I won, I felt like I did everything right, mentally and physically. I went into the second day with the attitude of doing the same thing and I got the result. It was really nice to string two good rounds together.”

In her previous two years as a Lady Eagle, Rigsby struggled through health issues her freshman year and a fractured foot her sophomore year. Rigsby said with the help of head women’s golf coach Greg Lynn, she has been able to rebuild her level of play to a higher level.

“Coach Greg Lynn and I spent a lot of time working together,” Rigsby said. “We totally revolutionized my golf swing and changed everything that I did—putting, chipping, ball-striking—we changed it all. By the end of my second semester freshman year, I had brought my game up to that next level. Coach and I just spent so much time rebuilding my game. Then, I fractured my foot in the spring, so I had to rebuild again when I got back this fall. Coach and the rest of the team have been so supportive. He has helped me rebuild two years in a row.”

As Rigsby looks to the spring season, she said she must stay healthy and strong to achieve her goals.

“Just sticking to my mental game plan and managing my emotions on the golf course, that’s a key aspect of my game,” Rigsby said. “I’d like to make it back to Nationals this spring.”

The Lady Eagles will open their spring season March 4-5 at the Diffie Ford-Lincoln Invitational in Edmond, OK. The Eagles will travel to Vista, CA to play in the Cal State-San Marcos Fujikura Invitational Feb. 4-5.

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