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RiverHawks Roll To Classic Win
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. --- Northeastern State University blitzed the field at the 11th Annual Northeastern State Golf Classic Tuesday at the Cherry Springs Golf Club to capture the team championship.
The RiverHawks, behind a record two-day performance of Jenks freshman Whitney McAteer , who took medalist honors, fired a 319 during the second round and finished the tournament at 623, to outdistance second place St. Mary's, Texas by 56 strokes in the 10-team tournament field.
St. Mary's finished with a 679. Following St. Mary's was Incarnate Word 707, Fort Hays State 708 and Oklahoma Baptist 715.
"Its pretty fun to win a golf tournament and I'm proud of the girls,'' said Northeastern State head coach Scott Varner.
"Were happy with the win, but I expected the girls to play better. Some of them didn't play Northeastern State caliber golf, but a win is a win.''
McAteer, who shot a 4-under-par record 68 on Monday followed it up with a 3-over 75 for two-day total 143, 1-under par, establishing a new mark for the 36-hole tournament on the par 72 Cherry Hills course.
McAteer was followed by teammates Liz Cagle 80 (156), Katie Miller 81 (160), Paola Torres 83 (164) and Shaunda Petree 87 (170).
"Whitney played like a champion, and I'm extremely proud of her,'' said Varner. "She was five-over at one point and came back. The girl from St. Mary's (Ursula Perez) closed to within three of her, but Whitney responded.
"She birdied 12 to go back to four up and it was game over. Whitney responded today and we expect many good things ahead from her.
"She had the tournament individual record on Monday and today (Tuesday) she gets the tournament record. In my 11 years here she did something no other player has ever done.
"We're very proud of that. And, four of our five girls made the all-tournament team. So it was a good tournament for us.
"We could have scored better, but the set up of the course was very tough and we wanted it that way," said Varner.
St. Mary's Perez followed her opening round 73 with a 79 to finish behind McAteer at 152, followed by the RiverHawks' Cagle, Miller, and Torres to round out the top five.
The Northeastern State women will now look forward to the Bubba Watson West Florida Invitational in Pensacola, Fla., on Sept. 21-22.
Final Results (Media Report)
