Women's Golf Spring Preview

SHAWNEE – Oklahoma Baptist women's golf kicks off the spring portion of their schedule Monday after competing in five tournaments during the fall.
 
The Lady Bison compiled four top-five finishes, including a third place finish at the NCCAA National Championship in October. OBU is scheduled for six tournaments this spring, finishing with the Great American Conference Tournament in April.
 
Head women's golf coach Mike Manlapig was pleased with the performances he saw from his team in the early part of the schedule, but said there is still room for growth this spring.
 
"We had a pretty good fall season. We had a lot more consistency than the previous year, but we need to be a little more consistent. We always did better on the second day than the first day, so that's good," said Manlapig.
 
OBU shaved off an average of 11.2 strokes from the first to the second rounds at the previous five tournaments this season.
 
Youth played a large role in the makeup of the team last fall, with freshmen Michelle Carr and Elly Baze playing in the top-two spots. Junior Kadrian Shelton, senior Emma Williams, and sophomore Shannen Stewart rounded out the top-five for the Lady Bison.
 
"The two freshmen that ended up one and two, Michelle Carr and Elly Baze, they didn't start there, but they ended up finishing in those spots. They helped us a lot to improve from a year ago. Going forward I hope they continue to improve on what they've done so far and be more consistent," remarked Manlapig.
 
Carr has posted four sub-80 rounds in her brief time on Bison Hill, and Baze was named to the NCCAA All-America team in the fall.
 
Stewart started every tournament in the top five for the second-straight year. "She didn't have quite as good a fall as she did the year before, but I think it's going to be a good spring and better than she did last year."
 
OBU received solid production from Shelton in the fall, placing in the top-15 on two separate occasions. Williams was the lone senior on the squad, and provided stability for the young roster.
 
"Kadrian's improved quite a bit from last year. Hopefully she'll go forward and finish strong and continue to work hard for the spring. And then for Emma to finish up her senior year pretty strong," said Manlapig.
 
The players at the top will have strong competition pushing them this spring, with qualifying rounds for future tournaments taking place throughout the season.
 
"We've got a freshman and a junior that are trying to get into those spots, with Olivia Klefsaas and Paige Neidy trying to fight for those spots," said Manlapig. "We also have Grace Johnson coming in, and she's working hard trying to get in the mix, too."
 
Senior Darby Morgan returns to the team after missing the fall semester due to injury.
 
"Darby had a rough start. She was injured in the fall and didn't get to play in any tournaments so she's going to be ready to go and try to fight for those spots herself and try to finish up her senior year pretty strong."
 
Sidney Stover will also look to contribute in the spring after playing in two tournaments last fall.
 
"Sidney's a junior, the same class with Paige and Kadrian. They've really made a good chemistry together for our team, and [Sidney] is working hard to do what she can to continue to help with the team," remarked Manlapig.
 
The Lady Bison will appear in six tournaments across five states in the spring, and face some of the top teams in the nation.
 
"We're playing a number of tournaments this spring where we will play a lot of tough tournaments that will test us, and we will find out where we are as we go forward into [the 2017-18] season, where we will be able to play postseason in NCAA DII," said Manlapig.
 
The Lady Bison are not eligible for NCAA postseason play this season due to Oklahoma Baptist's provisional member status. OBU is currently in year three of the three-year transition process from NAIA to NCAA Division II.
 
One of the more difficult tests of the season will come at the Augustana Spring Fling, a tournament that features five teams that made the NCAA Division II Super Regional, including reigning national champion Rollins and runner-up Indianapolis.
 
"The goal is to compete as close to as we can to those top teams to find out where we are and where we still need to go as we go forward next year in the fall," said Manlapig.
 
Oklahoma Baptist will compete as a member of the Great American Conference for the second straight season. The Lady Bison recorded a fifth place finish at the GAC Preview in the fall.
 
"Going forward this year, what we want to do is push and challenge a little bit more for a top-three spot," remarked Manlapig.
 
OBU opens up the year at the St. Edward's Invitational at Onion Creek Club in Austin, Texas. The tournament will take place from Feb. 20-21.