DURANGO, Colo. – Redshirt freshman
Jess Whitting of the Rogers State women's golf team concluded her stellar first season by placing 12th at the NCAA Division II Women's Super Regional on Wednesday (May 9) at the 6,348-yard, par 72 Hillcrest Golf Club. Whitting closed with a 2-over-par 74 in the final round for a total score of 13-over-par 229, three shots back from the final qualifying spot for the NCAA Division II Championship.
In the final round today, the Perth, Australia native totaled two birdies and four bogeys for the 2-over-par score. After three pars to open her day, she got to 1-under with a birdie on No. 4, a 453-yard, par 5. Whitting added her second birdie of the round on No. 8 with a three on the 384-yard par 4. She was even on the front nine after a bogey on No. 9. To close her freshman campaign, Whitting ended with seven pars and two bogeys on the back nine for the 2-over-par 74. The two birdies today were the most she tallied in a round this week as she carded three in the 54-hole tournament. The freshman shot rounds of 7-over-par 79 and 4-over-par 76 in the first two round for the 13-over-par total.
Dallas Baptist University won the regional as a team with a three-round total of 901. West Texas A&M (907) and California Baptist (909) took the other two team qualifying spots for the NCAA Division II Championship by finishing in the top three.
Holly Winter of WT and Kate Goodwin of Oklahoma Christian were co-champions individually at 7-over-par 223. DBU's Evelyn Arguelles and Addison Mitched tied for third at 8-over-par 224. Goodwin, Casey Wild (225) and Emily Brennan (226) earned individual berths for the NCAA Division II Championship as the top three individuals from non-qualifying teams.
Whitting finished her outstanding freshman season with two tournaments wins and five top-five finishes. She was named the Heartland Conference Freshman of the Year and set the RSU school record for the lowest individual round at 67 at the St. Edward's Invitational to propel herself to an individual title. She added her second individual title this season at the Hillcat Classic.
