Bob Hurley ORU Shootout
Shake, Bearkats win ORU Shootout
9/29/2015 4:52:00 PM | Women's Golf
Sam Houston's Heather Shake had no idea competing in just her second Division I tournament, she'd be writing her name into the program record book.
After two days at the Bob Hurley ORU Shootout, the junior transfer did so, and more, claiming the individual title at 1-under, 215, besting South Dakota's Brenna Lervick (2-over, 218), while helping the Bearkats to a 43-over, 907, two strokes ahead of South Dakota for the squad's second-straight team title at Oral Roberts.
On Monday, Shake posted a program-record tying 5-under, 67 opening round, matching Landa Stewart's 2006 feat. With consecutive, 2-over, 74's to close out play, Shake finished tied with Stewart (2006) and Jennifer Heinz (2008) for third among 36-hole bests.
“I really didn't have any expectations,” Shake said. “I just wanted to have fun. It would have been nice to get top 10 and I ended up getting first. We're pretty excited. We finished real strong. I think our short game was the most important part of it. We just tried to stay steady and make pars.”
According to ninth-year head coach Tommy Chain, Shake maintained her composure throughout all three rounds, with many of her 10 birdie puts being tap-ins.
“She was driving the ball down the middle and hitting the irons right by the flag,” Chain said. “She kept fighting and was making great swings. She had a double-bogey on the 10th hole and it didn't faze her. She was instrumental (in this win) with her consistent play for three rounds.”
The ultimate difference marker for the Kats was their play down the stretch during all three rounds. After shaky starts, among the Bearkats four contending scores, the squad combined to tap in six birdies over the last four holes each round.
“Today, we were well over par the front nine then all the girls we were even-par for the last nine holes,” Chain said. “The girls regained their composure. They did that every round. They were able to get their games back in line as far as taking good swings and getting their short games back in line. Each of the three rounds, we made up quite a few strokes in their last four or five holes. It was like a great fourth-quarter performance.”
Nicole Budnik, who captured fifth a week ago in Memphis, boasted another strong performance, taking 15th at 11-over, 227. The senior epitomized the squad's surge, playing bogey-free golf over her final four holes each round, for a combined 3-under during the stretch.
Sarah Black took 24th, just two strokes behind Budnik, at 13-over, 229, and Jenna Phillips shot a 20-over, 236 in 39th. Celeste Lo took 62nd at 28-over, 244.
Sam Houston, which dropped to fourth at one point, recorded its 32nd team tournament victory since the program began play in 1997. The win was the first since last year's ORU Shootout, although the squad is determined to make sure it's not the last.
“A couple of the girls said after the round, 'we don't plan for that to be the case this year,'” Chain said. “It gives us a lot of confidence. Their hard work since school started has paid off.”
