University of Oklahoma Athletics

Women's Golf Moves into Top Three at Cougar Classic

Women's Golf Ready For Big 12 Championship

April 21, 2011 | Women's Golf

April 21 , 2011

 No. 25 Women's Golf at Big 12 Championship
 Dates Friday, April 22 - Sunday, April 24
 Location Columbia, Mo. | Club at Old Hawthorne
 Tee Times Round One: Friday at 8:00 a.m. (CT)
Round Two: Saturday (TBD)
Round Three: Sunday (TBD)
 Live Stats GolfstatResults.com
 Notes Big 12 Championship Records | Notes

Columbia, Mo. – The 25th-ranked Oklahoma women's golf team is set to compete in the Big 12 Championship, April 22-24 (Friday-Sunday) at the par-72 Club at Old Hawthorne in Columbia, Mo.

Oklahoma recently concluded one of its most successful regular seasons in program history, breaking round and tournament score records throughout its 2010-11 campaign. The Sooners look to capitalize on their accomplishments as they head into the conference championship.

“We've had a great year,” said OU head coach Veronique Drouin. “It's been a lot of fun to play so well every week and I'm looking forward to seeing what we can do this weekend. We've been practicing diligently these past few weeks and have been preparing for this our entire season. I hope it can all pay off.”

The Sooners enter the postseason as one of three top-25 schools in the Big 12. Oklahoma is ranked No. 25 in the Golfweek/Sagarin Rankings, one spot behind No. 24 Texas. Iowa State paces the conference with its No. 21 ranking.

Oklahoma will be led by freshman Chirapat “Ja” Jao-Javanil, starting at the No. 1 position for the sixth straight tournament. The Thailand native has finished in the top 15 in eight of her nine career collegiate tournaments and has posted three top-six finishes in her last four events.

Ellen Mueller will compete in her final Big 12 Championship at the No. 2 position. The senior boasts a 73.59 stroke average, the lowest on the OU squad. Mueller has finished in the top 15 seven times this season and is coming off an 11th-place showing at the Baylor Spring Invitational. She led the Sooners in the 2010 Big 12 Championship, tying for 20th place.

Starting in the No. 3 position will be freshman Anne-Catherine Tanguay. The Quebec City native owns a 75.22 stroke average and has collected three top-20 finishes in her debut season.

Fellow freshman Emily Collins will play out of the No. 4 spot. Collins has finished in the top 12 three times this season and carries a 76.00 stroke average. She tied with Tanguay for 35th place at the Baylor Spring Invitational.

Junior Brooke Collins will round out the Sooner lineup at the No. 5 position. The team's lone junior has placed in the top eight in two of her last four tournaments.

The Sooners competed at this year's host course, the Club at Old Hawthorne, last fall at the Johnie Imes Invitational. Drouin's squad took second place among a 15-team field that featured eight Big 12 teams.

The 54-hole Big 12 Championship features three days of action. The Sooners will be paired with No. 21 Iowa State and No. 24 Texas and tee off on the first hole at 8 a.m. CT Friday. On Saturday and Sunday, teams will be grouped in threesomes according to their finish in the previous round.

As part of SoonerSports.com's coverage of OU's quest for its second Big 12 title (it won the 2000 championship), the team's blog and official Twitter page (@OU_WomensGolf) will both feature a behind-the-scenes look at the Sooners' time in Columbia. Live stats will be available at GolfStatResults.com.

Sunday, April 23
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