Milberger Set to Compete at NCAA Central Regional

NORMAN, Okla. Senior women's golfer Emily Milberger will represent the University of Oklahoma at the NCAA Central Regional May 5-7 in Lubbock, Texas. This marks her third straight appearance at the tournament.

“I'm really excited about having the chance to play in the tournament,” Milberger said. “I want to go there and put together three good rounds, and I think I'll have a good chance to make it to nationals. Over the past few months, I feel like I've come to a peak, so I've set high goals for myself.”

Milberger, a senior from Olathe, Kan., led the Sooners this year with a 75.69 stroke average. She opened the season at the Lady Northern Invitational, where she shot a career-low 71 and tied for 17th, and followed with a tie for 6th at the Jeannine McHaney Invitational. At the Kent Youel Invitational, she once again fired a 71 and tied for 5th, her best showing of the season.

During the spring, Milberger recorded four more top-20 finishes. She tied for 14th at the Betsy Rawls Longhorn Invitational and helped the Sooners to a 4th place finish at the BU-Tapatio Springs Intercollegiate Shootout, where she tied for 11th. Milberger tied for 13th at the Susie Maxwell Berning Classic and most recently tied for 12th at the Big 12 Championship.

For her performance throughout the season, Milberger was named a second-team All-Big 12 member, which marked the first time she has received a postseason award.

“I'm very disappointed that the team didn't make it to regionals, but I'm so excited that Emily is able to go,” said head coach Carol Ludvigson. “She will be a great ambassador for our team, and I think she has a great chance to make it on to nationals. I couldn't ask for a better athlete to represent us.”

Milberger will be joined by individual competitors Merynn Ito (Nebraska) and Louise Kenney (Iowa State). The NCAA Division I Women's Golf Committee chose Milberger, Ito and Kenney after selecting team qualifiers and ranking the remaining golfers in the region who would not be competing in the tournament as part of a team.

Team qualifiers include Auburn, Arizona State, New Mexico, LSU, Wake Forest, Texas, Missouri, Arkansas, Michigan, Tulsa, TCU, Southern Methodist, Purdue, Michigan State, Kent State, Baylor, Texas A&M, South Florida, Texas Tech, Notre Dame and Long Island.

The three-round tournament will be played at the 6,328-yard, par-72 Rawls Golf Course. Tee time is set for 7:30 a.m. each day.