Favored Henderson State Wins Women's DII Central Regional; Stevens Is T5

BARTLESVILLE, Okla. -- Henderson State was seeded No. 1 in the Women's NCAA Division II Central Regional this week, and that was where the Reddies ended up, thanks to a strong final round. Trailing Southwest Oklahoma State by four at the start of Day 3, the Reddies posted the lowest single-day score of the tournament on Wednesday, a 292 (4 over par), and the resulting aggregate of 894 was good for a six-stroke victory.

SW Oklahoma could do no better than 302, but still managed to finish second at 900. Rogers State grabbed the other berth into the NCAA DII Championships by finishing third, with a 907. Central Missouri was a distant fourth at 928, one ahead of Harding and two ahead of sixth-place Augustana.

Rogers' Lydia Sitorus, a junior from Indonesia, opened with an even-par 72 on Monday and followed it with a pair of 71s to claim the individual medal by five shots with at 214. Ellen Spigner of Arkansas Tech finished second with a 219. She, too, shot 71 on Wednesday.

Lily Nelson led the Henderson State rally with a 69. It was the only sub-70 score of the tournament, and it lifted her into third place at 221. One behind her, in fourth at 222, was Rebecca Lau of SW Oklahoma State, after a valedictory 76.

There was a three-way tie for fifth. Augustana's Molly Stevens, a fifth-year senior from Northfield, and the older sister of two-time Minnesota state high school champion Nate Stevens, was tied for first after Day 1 with a 72. A second-round 74 had her in second, but a 77 on Wednesday dropped her into a tie for fifth at 223. Also at that number was Henderson's Allie Bianchi, who closed with a 74, and Central Missouri's Mia Rallo, who shot a final-round 73.


Women's NCAA Division II Central Regional

At Hillcrest Country Club

Par 72, 5,921 yards

Bartlesville, Okla.

Final results

1. Henderson State 299-303-292--894

2. Southwest Okla. State 298-300-302--900

3. Rogers State 305-306-296--907

4. Central Missouri 316-303-309--928

5. Harding University 312-313-304--929

6. Augustana 306-318--306--930

7. Northeastern State 312-315-311--938

8. Central Oklahoma 315-316-318--949

9. Minnesota State 330-321-319--970

Individuals

1. Lydia Sitorus, Rogers 72-71-71--214

3. Lily Nelson, Henderson State 76-76-69--221

4. Rebecca Lau, SW Okla. State 72-74-76--222

T5. Molly Stevens, Augustana 72-74-77--223

T5. Mia Rallo, Central Missouri 75-75-73--223

T14. Lanie /veenendall, Aug. 75-76-77--228

24. Carly Moon, Winona State 78-78-79--235

T32. Shannonn McCormick, Aug. 79-86-74-239

T35. Anna Cihak, Minn. State 80-77-83--240

T35. Lauren Tims, Augustana 80-82-78--240

T38. Kelly Winter, Minn. State 82-83-76--241

42. Sammy Youngquist, Mn. St. 83-79-81--243

48. Claire Schweim, Minn. State 85-82-81--248

49. Mattie Weidenback, Aug. 80-93-89--262

Tori Woytassek, Minn. Minn. St. 81