Alva Review-Courier -

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Rogers State Women's Golf team overcame a deficit of seven strokes in the second round to win the 21st Annual NSU Women's Classic Tuesday afternoon at the Cherokee Springs Golf Course.

Sophomore Marybeth Bellnap was a big part of the comeback, as she shot a tournament best round of 71, including a birdie on the final hole to finish in a tie for first place. Bellnap bogeyed the first three holes on Tuesday, but came back with birdies on four, six and nine to make the turn at even par heading to the back nine.

Bellnap then strung together eight consecutive pars before a birdie on 18 helped the Hillcats pass Oklahoma Christian and hold off Henderson State in a tight finish. The Hillcats defeated 13 teams in the event.

The win for the Hillcats was the first victory under the direction of Whitney Hocutt, who is in her third year at the helm of her alma mater. The win is also the first victory for the Hillcats as a team since April of 2016 when RSU won the UAFS Lady Lion Classic.

Rogers State shot 302 on Tuesday to go with a 307 on Monday for a tournament score of 609 (+33). The +33 finish is also a best in a victory for Rogers State, with the previous best winning score being a +44, also at the UAFS Lady Lion Classic in 2016. It is also the eighth best 36-hole tournament all-time for the RSU Women's Golf program.

Bellnap's 71 was a collegiate best for the Kingwood, Texas native. She finished with a 147 for the two-day event, tied with Aitana Hernandez of Northeastern State. Hernandez won the playoff on the first hole to claim the top medalist honors. Bellnap's 147 is tied for the seventh best 36-hole tournament for the women's golf program at RSU.

Mariana Flores would finish second for RSU on the day and in the tournament. Flores shot a 76 in round two, finishing with a 151 for the tournament. Flores finished in a four-way tie for third place at +7 after 36 holes.

Jessica Green improved one shot after Monday's 78, finishing with a 77 on Tuesday to take 12th place overall. Green finished with a pair of birdies on the afternoon.

All five Hillcats finished in the top 30 overall as Raquel Flores and Patrizia Schaefer finished in a tie for 26th overall in the 75-player field. Schaefer rounded out the top-4 scoring on the day for the Hillcats with a 78. Flores finished with a 79 on Tuesday as both players shot 157 for the two-day event to finish at +13.

The Hillcats will now have a week off before returning to action on September 24 and 25. The MIAA Preview will be hosted by Nebraska-Kearney at the Awarii Dunes in Axtell, Nebraska.

Pos. Team/Player Rd 1 Rd 2 Total To Par

2 Marybeth Bellnap 76 71 147 +3

T3 Mariana Flores 75 76 151 +7

T12 Jessica Green 78 77 155 +11

T26 Raquel Flores 78 79 157 +13

T26 Patrizia Schaefer 79 78 157 +13

1 Rogers State 307 302 609 +33