RESULTS || HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Arkansas Tech, the top-ranked team in the NCAA Division II Central Region, maintained its lead at the 2017 Great American Conference Women’s Golf Championships, but Henderson State and Southwestern Oklahoma State each inched closer to the Golden Suns on Monday from the Park Course at the Hot Spring Country Club.
Three members of the Golden Suns finished the second round in the top five. Pia Nunbhakdi, last year’s individual champion, moved up to second place after she recorded her second consecutive round of 2-over 74. Caroline Fredensborg added a 76 and shared third while Avery Struck matched Fredensborg with a 76 that left her in a tie for fifth.
Henderson State shaved three strokes off of Arkansas Tech’s first-round advantage. The Reddies posted the low round of Monday, a 302, that that pulled them to with two strokes of the top spot. Luisa Gartmann and Taylor Loeb climbed up the leaderboard to pace the Reddies. Both shot 73 as Loeb moved up from eighth to fifth and Gartmann jumped up to eighth from 15th. Sarah Wright, the leader after Sunday’s first round recorded a 78 and sits in third.
Southwestern Oklahoma State pulled to within six shots of Tech. Elin Wahlin carded the low round of the day, and of the tournament to date, when she shot a 2-under 70 to grab a four-stroke advantage. She made three birdies on her opening nine and the 70 represented the second-lowest round in GAC Championship history. Gloria Choi, the GAC Player of the Year followed up her opening round 77 with a 75. She sits in seventh place.
Southern Nazarene and Arkansas-Monticello traded positions and the Crimson Storm overtook the Blossoms for fourth place. Southern Arkansas passed Northwestern Oklahoma State and ended the day in sixth. The Rangers’ Brittani Casement posted a 75 that moved in into 10th place, the only player not from any of the top three teams. Harding remained in the eighth slot.
Oklahoma Baptist, competing as individuals, had a pair break 80 for the first time of the tournament as Michelle Carr and Elly Baze each shot 79s
Tuesday’s final round begins at 7:30 a.m. with the members of the Rangers, Lady Muleriders and Lady Bisons paired together for the second-straight day.