By RANGER ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT
The Northwestern Oklahoma State University men’s golf team claimed the 2016 Ranger Invite, while the women’s golf team finished in third place at Meadlowlake Golf Course in Enid on Monday.
The men’s team took the title with a team total of 589. The women’s final score was 680.
The Ranger’s “black” team completed a two-stroke comeback on the University of the Southwest to win their first team title as an official NCAA Division II school.
Northwestern’s “Red” team also played a solid round of golf today, finishing in fifth place with a two-day total of 622.
Consistency was the key for the Rangers as the top four players on the black team finished just two strokes apart for the tournament. Freshman Cody Hixon and Parker Rehorn both earned top-5 medalists honors for their efforts.
Hixon fired rounds of 72-74 to total 146 to finish in third place while Rehorn posted numbers of 74-73 to finish in fifth place at 147. The Rangers also produced two other top-ten finishers in Cole Ward and Tyler Miller, who finished with a two-day total of 148, good enough for sixth place.
Altus native, Collin Stork, rounded out the black team with a two-day total of 157 (81-76.)
Senior Drew Sims led the way for the red team with a career-low round of one-under par 70 on Monday afternoon. Sims had a chance to challenge the school record round of 68, which was tied by Hixon earlier in the semester, but bogeyed two out of the last three holes.
The rest of the red team followed up Sims’ stellar round with positive efforts themselves. Freshman Joah Mitchell shot a 75 to finish with a two-day total of 153 in his first ever collegiate event.
Junior Clayton Davison and sophomore Aaron Dobbs followed up Mitchell with totals of 156 and 164 respectively.
The women’s team was led by sophomore Brittani Casement, who finished in fifth place with a two-day total of 164 (79-85.) Casement finished 15 strokes out of the individual medalist spot, which was taken by Fort Hays State University golfer Hannah Perkins.
Freshman Madison Hopper finished four strokes behind Casement with a total of 168 (83-85.) London, Ontario, Canada native Olivia Brock shot a pair of 87’s to finish in a tie for 14th place.
Arlington, Texas native, Nikkole Donk also had consistent play with rounds of 87 and 89 for a total of 176. Freshman Hallie Ward finished in a tie for 27th place with a total of 188.
Individuals Kennedy Jewell and Klarissa Vela finished with totals of 174 and 190.
The Rangers will work over the off-season to prepare for their upcoming spring semester of golf which will get underway in early March and conclude with the Great American Conference Championships in late April.
The Rangers will work over the off-season then return to action in early March for their spring semester of golf, which will include the Great American Conference championship at the end of the semester.