Photo courtesy University of Oklahoma Athletics
ATHENS, Ga. – Freshman Audrey Rischer was the only golfer to finish even-par, winning the Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic and leading Oklahoma to its fifth consecutive top-five finish of the spring.
Rischer earned her first career win, surpassing her previous best finish of second at the MountainView Collegiate. Oklahoma (5, +31) finished fifth in the regular season finale, capping its best stretch in more than a decade with five straight top-five finishes for the first time since 2012-13. Rischer’s win marks OU’s second individual title of the season, joining Gracie Mayo’s victory at the Paradise Invitational and giving the Sooners multiple tournament champions in a single season for the first time since 2011.
Rischer (1, E) carded rounds of 71-72-73 to stay even on the week. She tallied nine birdies across three rounds, tied for second most in the 68-player field. The Columbia, Mo., native shot 1-over 73 in the final round at the par-72 University of Georgia Golf Course to edge out Georgia’s Celine Sanne, who finished second at 1-over.
“I’m incredibly proud of Audrey and the work she’s put in,” said head coach Veronique Drouin-Luttrell. “To see her break through and get her first win is so special. Her growth and consistency have been amazing, and it’s exciting to see it all come together at the perfect time. We’ve got some really good momentum as we head into the postseason.”
Rischer was named SEC Golfer of the Week on March 5 after her runner-up finish at the MountainView and now owns four top-five finishes in her debut season.
Juniors Savannah Barber (T11, +7) and MaKayla Tyrrell (T20, +11) joined Rischer in the top 20. Barber led the field with 10 birdies and helped the Sooners notch a tournament-high 39 on the week.
Senior Regan Chaney (T40, +15) and junior Gracie Mayo (T40, +15) tied for 40th to complete the Oklahoma lineup.
Redshirt sophomore Raychel Nelke (T31, +13) competed as an individual and tied for 31st after a final-round 75.
Next, Oklahoma opens postseason play at the SEC Championship, set for April 14-18 at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Fla. The Sooners will then host an NCAA Regional at Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club in Norman from May 5-7.
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