Seniors Drive OU to Tie for Third

March 30, 2008

NORMAN, Okla. - Seniors Heather Wright and Kelly Jacques led the way for the No. 40 University of Oklahoma women's golf team Sunday as the Sooners finished in a tie for third place with Texas Tech at the 17-team MountainView Collegiate in Tucson, Ariz. It marked the best finish of the spring season for OU, which posted a final-round 302 at the 6,178-yard, par-72 MountainView Golf Course.

"We worked real hard today, but couldn't get anything going," said OU head coach Carol Ludvigson, whose team was tied for the lead heading into Sunday. "I am excited about Heather and Kelly's finishes, and Ryanne (Elmer) did awesome today. We will take this and use it to know that we can put ourselves in the position to win. Now we just have to close the deal."

Wright fired a final-round 73 (+1) to finish alone in third place at 218 (+2), the best tournament finish of her career. She finished three shots behind medalist Lauren Harling of Indiana.

Jacques carded a matching 73 to vault into an 11th-place tie with a three-round score of 221 (+5). It is her 18th career top-20 finish, and marks the sixth time in eight events this season that she has finished in the top 12.

Junior Kendall Dye shot a 79, good enough for her 10th career top 20. She tied for 20th place at 224 (+8).

Sophomore Ryanne Elmer had the round of the day for the Sooners en route to a career-best 18-hole score. Her final-round 72 made it two consecutive days that she posted her career-low. She tied for 31st place at 226 (+10) competing as an individual.

Freshman Ellen Mueller shot a 77 (+5) to tie for 43rd place at 228 (+12), and junior Staci Smoot finished in a tie for 85th at 241 (+25) after a final-round 83.

OU finished 11 strokes behind tournament champion Indiana, but just two shots back of second-place San Jose State. Of the nine Big 12 teams competing in the event, the Sooners and Texas Tech were tops.

"The pressure of this tournament will help us going into next week and the Big 12 Championship," Coach Ludvigson said. "This week we will be working hard on putting and knockdown shots."

OU now prepares to host its home tournament, the Susie Maxwell Berning Classic, April 6-7 at the Jimmie Austin University of Oklahoma Golf Club.

"We are excited to play at our home event," Ludvigson said. "We look forward to a team and individual win."

Action begins in Norman next Sunday at 8 a.m. CT.

Team Standings
1. Indiana - 294-295-291=880 (+16)
2. San Jose State - 287-308-294=889 (+25)
T3. Oklahoma - 287-302-302=891 (+27)
T3. Texas Tech - 293-301-297=891 (+27)
5. Missouri - 290-301-301=892 (+28)
T6. Nebraska - 296-299-300=895 (+31)
T6. Louisville - 294-301-300=895 (+31)
8. East Carolina - 299-297-305=901 (+37)
9. Iowa State - 304-295-304=903 (+39)
10. Michigan - 305-298-304=907 (+43)
11. Kansas - 299-308-302=909 (+45)
12. Colorado - 300-304-306=910 (+46)
13. Kansas State - 306-299-307=912 (+48)
14. Northwestern - 302-303-310=915 (+51)
15. Colorado State - 310-305-307=922 (+58)
16. Baylor - 307-309-314=930 (+66)
17. Boise State - 310-317-312=939 (+75)

Individual Standings
1. Lauren Harling, Indiana - 73-70-72=215 (-1)
2. Erica Moston, San Jose State - 68-72-76=216 (E)
3. Heather Wright, Oklahoma - 69-76-73=218 (+2)
T4. Pennapa Pulsawath, Iowa State - 74-71-74=219 (+3)
T4. Laura Nochta, Indiana - 70-73-76=219 (+3)
T4. Gloriana Soto, Texas Tech (Individual) - 73-77-69=219 (+3)

OU Individual Standings
3. Heather Wright - 69-76-73=218 (+2)
T11. Kelly Jacques - 72-76-73=221 (+5)
T20. Kendall Dye - 70-75-79=224 (+8)
T31. Ryanne Elmer (Individual) - 78-76-72=226 (+10)
T43. Ellen Mueller - 76-75-77=228 (+12)
T85. Staci Smoot - 79-79-83=241 (+25)

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Related News

Related Videos

Sponsors