Arkansas Tech University is Great American Conference women’s golf champion once more.
The Golden Suns’ drive for five consecutive Great American Conference women’s golf championships kicked into high gear on the front nine at Hot Springs Country Club’s Park Course on Tuesday morning.
ATU trailed front-running Southwestern Oklahoma State University by four strokes entering the final round of play. The Golden Suns wasted no time in chasing down the Lady Bulldogs.
Bolstered by a front-nine 4-under par 32 from Allie Weiner, Arkansas Tech made the turn with a team score of even par. As a result, the four-stroke deficit the Golden Suns faced at the beginning of the day was transformed into a six-stroke lead with nine holes to play.
There was no stopping Arkansas Tech once it went to the front of the pack. The Golden Suns completed the final round with a team score of 1-under par 287 for a 54-hole total of 885. Runner-up Southwestern Oklahoma State shot 304 during the final round to complete the tournament with a total of 898.
It is the sixth conference title in ATU women’s golf history. In addition to their GAC championships in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019, the Golden Suns were Gulf South Conference champions in 2011.
Weiner became the fourth different Arkansas Tech women’s golf team member to win the GAC individual title. She recovered from two bogeys early on the back nine Tuesday to birdie three of her final four holes.
The sophomore from Maumelle shot 5-under par 67 during the final round to complete the 54-hole event with a total of 219, two strokes better than her nearest competition among a nine-team, 45-player field.
Weiner joins Rebecka Surtevall (2012 and 2014) and two of her current teammates, Pia Nunbhakdi (2016) and Peerada Piddon (2018), as ATU’s individual GAC champions in women’s golf.
Jacqueline Klemm (T-3rd, 73-75-75-223), Piddon (T-3rd, 75-75-73-223), Nunbhakdi (T-5th, 79-74-72-225) and Sydney Staton (T-7th, 75-74-78-227) also contributed to the Golden Suns’ team championship.
The Golden Suns will compete in the NCAA Division II Central Regional May 6-8 in Muskogee, Okla. Arkansas Tech is No. 1 in the most recent NCAA Division II Central Region women’s golf rankings.
