OWASSO, Okla. (March 18, 2019) – Oklahoma Christian’s Kate Goodwin put herself in position for another individual title and her teammates put themselves in contention for the team crown, too, on Monday on the opening day of the Hillcat Classic at Bailey Ranch Golf Club.
Heartland Conference teams stood first, second and third after the opening round, with Newman (Kan.) leading the 12-team field at 308, one shot ahead of OC, the defending tournament champion. Another shot back was the tournament host, Rogers State. All three teams spent time atop the leaderboard at some point Monday.
Goodwin, a senior from Tulsa who has four career individual wins, shot a 2-over-par 74 on the 5,890-yard course and was tied with Jessica Green of Rogers State for the lead in the 59-woman tournament. Goodwin opened with a birdie on her first hole, the par-5 No. 14, and recorded another birdie at the par-5 No. 7.
One shot behind Goodwin and Green was Rogers State’s Raquel Flores, and another shot behind Flores were four players who shot 76, including OC sophomore Shaley Goad of Wheeler, Texas. Goad, coming off a runner-up finish last week in the Midwestern State Invitational in Wichita Falls, Texas, played a steady round with one birdie.
OC junior Abigail Rigsby recorded her lone birdie on her final hole, the par-4 No. 12, to put her into a tie for eighth at 77. OC senior Elizabeth Freeman and freshman Alexandria Bennett each shot an 82 and were tied for 19th.
Playing as an individual, OC sophomore Felicity Wittenberg posted a 91 and was 44th.
Green finished round one with a 2-over-par round of 74 to lead the way in the field of 59 on Monday. Green had three birdies, including back-to-back birdies on 15 and 16 to climb the ranks late in round one and share the clubhouse lead with 18 holes to play.
Teammate Raquel Flores is just one shot behind Green and sits alone in third place. Flores opened up the day with four consecutive pars. She finished with strong as well, going one under over the final five holes on the par-72 course.
The Rogers State men’s golf team sits in sixth place overall, just six shots behind first after day one of the Hillcat Classic at the Bailey Ranch Golf Club.
The Hillcats shot a 297 in round one and followed it up with a 294 in the second round on Monday.
Edwin Blomander and Luke Palmowski share the lead for the Hillcats after day one, sitting in a tie for seventh overall in the 60-player field.
Blomander led the Hillcats with a 71 in round one, finishing with four birdies, including three on the back nine. In round two, Blomander shot a 75 to sit at +4 heading into Tuesday’s final round.
Palmowski also sits after +4 after shooting rounds of +3 and +1. He had two birdies in round one. In round two, Palmoski finished with 16 pars.
Gonzalo Chaves sits third for the Hillcats and in a tie for 26th overall. Chaves had four total birdies in rounds of 76 and 75 on the par-71 course.
Aidan Gavey is fourth for the Hillcats after day one, sitting at +12. Ewen Delample also sits at +12, as both are tied for 35th. Gavey shot rounds of 76 and 78, while Delample shot rounds of 74 and 80.
Patrick Bart tied Palmowski for the best round for the Hillcats in the second round on Monday, shooting a 72.
Rogers State and the rest of the 11-team field will return to action tomorrow morning with a shotgun start set for 9 a.m.