BELLA VISTA -- Summar Roachell saved her best for last.

Roachell entered the third and final round of the Arkansas Women's Golf Association Stroke Play Championships on Wednesday with a 12-stroke lead, and the University of Arkansas golfer padded that margin with her best round of the tournament.

Roachell, of Conway, carded a 5-under 66 at Bella Vista Country Club to claim the championship with a 6-under 207, which was 18 strokes better than runner-up Grier Bennett of Hot Springs Village. Heidi Rice of Rogers finished third.

Roachell had six birdies and one bogey, and the Razorbacks sophomore carded birdies on three of her final four holes. Roachell started her round with a birdie, and she said that helped her stay relaxed for the rest of her round.

"It was just a solid round and I didn't make a lot of mistakes," Roachell said. "I gave myself a lot of good looks for birdie, and I made those when I had the chance. I just really tried to play really solid golf and stay focused. With a big lead, you have to stayed focused even more.

"It's nice to have a big lead, but I really didn't want to press today. When you start to press, that is when you make mistakes."

A day after being 40 feet from eagle on the par 5, 17th, Roachell made a six-foot birdie putt on the hole to move to 4 under on her round. She then made birdie from one foot on No. 18 to close out her round.

"I had about the same length putt on 17, and I was not going to miss it again," Roachell said. "It felt good to birdie that hole. I only played it 1 under despite getting there in two every day."

Bennett entered the the tournament as the defending champion, but the High Point University golfer opened with a 76-78--154 that put her in third place entering the final round. Bennett started her round Wednesday with two bogeys but battled back with four birdies on her last 11 holes to finish her final round with an even par 71.

Bennett chipped in for birdie on No. 13, one-hopping her shot into the cup from behind the hole. She also made a five-foot birdie putt on No. 17.

"It was a much better round. I had been struggling and not knowing where my driver was going," Bennett said. "After about the fourth hole, I slowed my swing down and that made it an easier round. The chip in was awesome. It was downhill with little green. I was just trying to get it close and it went in, which was a nice bonus."

Pam Spikes won the president flight (246) and Stevie Lamar won the open flight (240).

Sports on 08/07/2014