Lincoln, Nebraska - The UBC Thunderbirds are set to defend their NAIA title this week at the 2013 NAIA Women's Golf Championships in Lincoln, Nebraska. This year's field features 27 schools, which include 17 automatic qualifying teams who won conference tournaments, nine at large selections, plus one host berth (Doane College).
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The Thunderbirds team of five heads into this year's event as the number four ranked team in the NAIA and features
Kylie Barros,
Haley Cameron,
Casara Hong,
Reagan Wilson, and
Stephanie Wong. The quintet rolled over the competition at the Association of Independent Institutions (AII) Conference Championships, combining to shoot back to back rounds under 290 and winning by 13 strokes.
"The AII Championship says a lot about where the team is right now," said UBC head coach
Chris MacDonald. "When they free their minds and just swing it, it is pretty amazing what they can do."
This year three different players have won individual titles for UBC.
Casara Hong won the Western Washington Invitational,
Kylie Barros was tops at the Sonoma State Fall Invitational, and
Reagan Wilson scored a new personal best low round on route to winning the individual title at the AII Conference Championships in Texas.
"Our biggest strength is our consistency," said MacDonald. "We have five players who could be the number one player on any given day and when you have that kind of talent you are never out of a tournament."
UBC's biggest competition will once again be the number one ranked team in the NAIA, Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). The Thunderbirds rallied from a three stroke deficit with three holes to play in last year's final round to defeat SCAD and to win the 2012 NAIA Championship by two shots. Other teams to watch include Oklahoma City, William Woods (Mo.), and Cal State-San Marcos.
"Other teams won't be used to the pressure that comes with playing in a national championship," said MacDonald. "All our girls have had the experience of playing in these types of events and if we are within 10 shots of the lead through two rounds of play, we will put ourselves in a good position to win."
Barros, Hong, Wilson, and Wong were all part of last year's championship team. Barros, in her fourth and final year, has been a champion at every NAIA Championship she has played in. She won a team title in 2010, an individual title in 2011, and another team title in 2012.
"This is the tightest group of players I have ever had," said MacDonald. "They love playing together and feed off one another."
This year's event is a four-day, 72-hole tournament and will be played at the Wilderness Ridge Golf Club in Lincoln. The course officially opened in 2001 and measures just over 7,100 yards with a par score of 71.
"We have never played the course before, but we will get there and play two full practice rounds so we we will be ready to play," said MacDonald. "The course is very fair and playable which will help us. We are used to tough courses and longer lengths playing in NCAA events, so when we return to NAIA events, which are usually shorter and with pin placements that are fair, we are able to put up some good numbers."
UBC has been one of the top team's in the NAIA for over a decade, winning four NAIA championships since 2001 (2001, 2004, 2010, and 2012).
The Thunderbirds tee off on Tuesday (Round 1) at 6:20 a.m. PST and Wednesday (Round 2) at 11:50 a.m. PST.
