By RYAN SHUMAKER
Sports Editor
The Ranger’s golf teams battled high winds and poor course conditions to pull out a victory against Oklahoma Panhandle State University at Sunset Hills golf course, on Saturday.
The match featured 15 golfers on the men side and 11 girls golfers. The match took place at Sunset Hills golf course in Guymon, Oklahoma, and presented poor conditions to the golfers including poor putting surfaces and spotty fairways.
Both teams battled hard with the men posting a score of 326, and the women posting a score of 368. The men’s team was lead by junior Drew Sims who shot a 76 to win the individual title by one stroke.
Senior Trevor Montgomery was the next closest Ranger to Sims, firing an 81. Freshman Tyler Miller shot 84, followed by junior college transfer Cole Ward who posted an 85 and junior Ryan Shumaker, who rounded out the team scoring with an 86.
Despite the high scores, men’s head coach Kyle Ward remains optimistic headed into the second tournament of the year. “We battled through the conditions, found areas that needed improvement before conference play begins and had some positive signs from our upperclassmen,” said Ward.
Junior Cole Ward maintains that the team has a lot of improving to do but said, “It’s nice to start the season off with a W.”
On the women’s side, new head coach Aaron Ford started his collegiate coaching career with a victory.
The women fired a 368 team score, paced by sophomores Olivia Brock and Ami Adkinsson. Brock and Adkinsson both finished in a tie for second with a score of 90. Freshman Brittani Casement and Arlington, Texas native Nikole Donk were close behind with scores of 93 and 95.
Both teams will face a major step up in competition for their next tournament. For the men they will head out to Danville, Arkansas, to compete in the Dave Falconer Classic at Chamberlyne Country Club, on March 7-8. The tournament will feature a strong field including three of the top five projected finishers in the Great American Conference.
“I am anxious to see where we stack up against the four or five conference teams that will be there,” Coach Ward said. “I think my guys are ready for their first big road trip and are ready to make a good showing.”
For the girls they will head to Edmond, Oklahoma, to compete in the Diffee Open at Kickingbird Golf Club, on March 7-8. They will match-up against golf power houses Oklahoma Christian University and Central Oklahoma University.