Spirit Capture GSAC Golf Championship

 It was closer than they had hoped but the OUAZ women's golf team won the 2023 Golden State Athletic Conference Championship played at Briarwood Country Club the past three days. Leading by nine strokes heading into the final round, the Spirit edged out Vanguard University by one stroke to win it's second-ever conference championship.

Individually the Spirit we led by senior Danielle Talley, an all-conference selection, who finished second overall, just one shot behind the winner Catherine Batang (Menlo College). Spirit freshman Maddi Shoults, who was named co-GSAC Freshman of the Year and also to the all-conference team, finished third, two shots off the pace. 

Besides Talley and Shoults, the Spirit had three others finish in the Top 20 - Emma Johnson (13th), the third all-conference winner for OUAZ, Glory Grubb (19th) and Mollie Owen (20th). Head coach Tina Barrett was also named co-Coach of the Year.

"This is really special for our women, but especially the four seniors playing today," said OUAZ head coach Tina Barrett. "I'm really proud of how they battled all day. It may not have been our best round but they did what needed to be done to win. All I know is that we're not ready for our time together to be done so we wanted to put ourselves in the best position to have our names called when the field is announced for the NAIA championship event in May." 

Now the team will wait a few weeks to hear if they qualify for the 28th Annual Women's Golf National Championship to played at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Ill., May 23-26.