Oxendine headlines field at Bella Vista CC
!"The Russellville golfer is closing in on another AWGA Player of the Year award.
Posted: August 22, 2009 at 3:39 a.m.
Julie Oxendine of Russellville is closing in on her eighth Arkansas Women's Golf Association Player of the Year honor and first since 2006. She tees off at 8 a.m. today tin the first round of the AWGA Bella Vista Designated at the Bella Vista Country Club.
BENTONVILLE — A new champion will be crowned this weekend at the AWGA Bella Vista Designated golf tournament at Bella Vista Country Club. The 36-hole, stroke play event begins with the first round today at 8 a.m.
Tanna Richard of Fort Smith, last year's AWGA Player of the Year, has won the Bella Vista stop three years in a row but is sitting out this year. Richard, who will be inducted into the Arkansas Women's Golf Association's Hall of Distinction on Sept. 26, is focusing her golf schedule around preparation for upcoming USGAcompetition, most notably the U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur Championship in Florida in early October.
Her absence will open the door for Julie Oxendine to strengthen her grip on the Player of the Year points lead. Oxendine, of Russellville, is a seventime Player of the Year and is enjoying another strong summer.
She won the Match Play for the sixth time and was second in the Stroke Play - the AWGA's two major tournaments. She also won a designated tournament at Hot Springs Country Club.
Oxendine has accumulated 510 points this season and leads by a sizable margin over college golfers Jennifer Welch (300; Arkansas State), C.J. Bobbitt (250; Central Arkansas), Chelsey Cothran (200; Baylor) and Alex Schulte (200; Arkansas). None of those players are entered this weekend.
The winner of this weekend's tournament earns 100 points in the POY standings.
Others who should contend this weekend are some of Oxendine's teammates from their recent win in the Fore-States Cup Matches, an annual event between top amateurs from Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Kansas.
Brenda Carr (Bentonville), Doris Herren (Cave Springs) and Rosetta Parks (Cave Springs) were also on the 10-member team that helped Arkansas win the competition for the first time in eight years and only the third in the 15-year history of the event.
Sunday's final round also begins with an 8 a.m. shotgun start.
Sports, Pages 7, 8 on 08/22/2009
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