Lamar Wins 2016 Southland Women’s Golf Championship
Southland Conference
CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL | PHOTO GALLERY | FINAL RESULTS | HIGHLIGHTS | AWARDS CEREMONY
MCKINNEY, Texas – Lamar maintained its lead from the opening round to win the 2016 Southland Conference Women’s Golf Championship by eight strokes at the Hills Course at Stonebridge Ranch Country Club in McKinney, Texas.
Lamar has won the last four golf championships and has a league-leading seven overall titles. The Cardinals were paced by individual medalist Wenny Chang, who shot a three-round total of 2-under par 214 (72-70-72). Lamar shot a final round of 307 as a team to card a three-round total of 898. Lamar earns the Southland Conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA regionals, which will be held May 5-7 at one of four pre-determined sites. The Cardinals will find out where they will be heading during the April 25 selection show on the Golf Channel, 5 p.m. CT.
Lamar placed two golfers in the top three led by Chang, who was the only golfer to shoot par or better in all three rounds, followed by Taylor Stockton, who finished third with a 7-over par 223 (72-71-80). Lamar place two other golfers in the top 20 with Olivia Le Roux (76-81-76 – 220), who tied for 16th, and Kura Poko (79-75-80 – 220) who tied for 18th.
Central Arkansas finished runner-up for the second consecutive season after shooting a 42-over par 906 (302-298-306) after three rounds. The Bears placed three golfers in the top six, highlighted by Fernanda Lira, who finished second with a 5-over par 221 (77-74-72). Brenda Gonzalez placed fifth with a 10-over par 226 (75-71-80) followed by Emma Svensson, who finished sixth (74-76-77 – 227).
The top five individuals include Chang followed by Lira, Stockton, Sam Houston State’s Heather Shake (75-73-76 – 224), and Gonzalez.
Houston Baptist finished third (916) followed by Stephen F. Austin (926) and Sam Houston State (926) in a tie for fourth place, then Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (949) in sixth and McNeese State (957) in seventh. UIW, which is not eligible to earn the league’s automatic bid during its transition period from Division II to Division I, is participating unattached. As a team, the Cardinals finished with a 992.
A weather delay at 11:30 a.m. CT postponed play until 1:50 p.m. with all teams still on the course.