Oklahoma City – The UBC Thunderbirds led from start to finish to claim the 27
th NAIA Women's Golf National Championship Friday afternoon at Lincoln Park West Golf Club in Oklahoma City.
The T-Birds topped the field with a three-round score of three-under-par 860 (286, 286, 288) five shots clear of second place Oklahoma City University who finished +1 (865) on their home course and third place SCAD – Savannah (GA.) well off the pace carding a 14-over-par (878).
With the win the T-Birds perfect season remains intact as they improve to 11 straight victories while claiming the programs sixth NAIA Women's Golf National Championship and the fourth for long-time head coach
Chris MacDonald. UBC capturing the banner in back-to-back appearances at the Championship after winning the last one in 2019, the last time competing in the tournament pre-pandemic.
The T-Birds found themselves in familiar territory atop the leaderboard after only sneaking in half of a weather delayed round one which didn't get underway until Wednesday evening and eventually caused a format change to a 54-hole tournament. Following identical back-to-back collective rounds of 286 the 'Birds entered round three with a 10-stroke lead over Oklahoma City who made a push on the final day and closed the gap by five strokes in carding a 283 compared to UBC's 288.
Sonja Tang was a tone setter all tournament long and that didn't change on day three as she carded a -1 (71) on the strength of three birdies on the front nine, good for the overall top T-Bird individual score at 4-under to occupy sole possession of sixth spot overall.
Grace Bell, followed her scorching round two 4-under (68) with +1 (73) on Friday to sit one spot behind Tang in seventh place. Elizabeth Labbe improved with each round of the tournament and carded the second-best team score of the day with a -2 (70), her four birdies helped her climb five spots to claim a two-way tie for ninth place.
Emily Li carded a +2 (74) while Shania Remandaban finished with a 3-over (75), each of them depositing two birdies to close things out.
The T-Birds will next return north of the boarder but get right back on the road as they look to extend their perfect season next week out east at the Golf Canada Canadian University Championship in Bromont, Que. UBC will be looking to defend their Canadian University title win from 2019 in Komoka, Ont. the last time the tournament was held.