OMAHA, Neb. – The Shocker women's golf team heads to Omaha, Nebraska and Oak Hills Country Club next week to compete in the Big O Classic, hosted by the Creighton University.
 
Head Women's Golf Coach Tom McCurdy is ready to make the return to Omaha after his team's victory in this tournament last season.
 
"It's nice to go to a golf course that we know, we are familiar with, and that we know we can succeed at," McCurdy said. "Oak Hills really fits our style play, being as good of ball-strikers that we are.".
 
There were no qualifying rounds for this tournament as the team went from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho last week to Omaha within four days. In Idaho, the Shockers finished tied for ninth among the 12 teams in the field and set a new team record for a team 18-hole score on a par 71 golf course at 287.
 
Coach McCurdy saw some encouraging results on days one and three of the tournament last week at Coeur d'Alene.
 
"The tournament last week went pretty well." McCurdy said. "We had really good first and third rounds, but a tough second round. I was very impressed with how our girls were able to battle back in round three after a rough second round."
 
Fast Facts – Big O Classic
Dates: Monday-Tuesday, Oct. 2-3, 2023
Host: Creighton University 
Location: Omaha, Nebraska (Oak Hills Country Club)
Yardage: 6,088 Yards
Par: 73
Format: 54 Holes (36 first day, 18 second day)
Live Scoring: Golfstat
The Field: 12 teams
12 teams – Creighton, Idaho State, Missouri State, Montana, Northern Colorado, Omaha, St. Thomas, South Dakota State, UNI, UTRGV, Western Illinois, Wichita State
 
Shocker Five in Omaha:
Mackenzie Wilson (So.) -- Playing in 13^th tournament as a Shocker and third of the season…Finished tied for 20^th at Payne Stewart Memorial…Finished tied 7^th at Coeur d'Alene Intercollegiate last week.
 
Kate Tilma (So.) -- Transfer from Kansas State…Wichita native…Competing in third event of season…Finished tied for fifth at season-opening tournament.
 
Anna Takahasi (Gr.) -- Graduate transfer from Sam Houston State…Competing in third event of season…Finished tied for 13^th in first tournament of season at Payne Stewart Memorial
 
Hillary Currier (Fr.) -- True freshman…Competing in third tournament in her career.
 
Lauren Thiele (R-Fr.) -- Second year Shocker playing in second collegiate tournament after redshirt year…Finished tied for 70^th in only other tournament of her career.
 
Coach McCurdy on…
 
…Kate Tilma:
"Kate has the ability to turn some par 5s in par 4s because of how long she can hit the ball. She also can carry some of the fairway bunkers that 90% of the tournament field is not going to be able to do. She's going to have a great advantage in that area and she's a great putter as well."
 
…Anna Takahashi:
"Anna should play really well at this golf course. She's a tight ball-striker off the tee and has great control of her driver and her irons. She's also an exceptional putter as well."
 
…Mackenzie Wilson:
"Mackenzie has such a great driver. She can work the ball both ways, has very good distance control with her irons, and she has a great competitive fire. I think she has the capability and potential to have a big breakthrough sometime soon."
 
…Hillary Currier
"Hillary is doing very well in terms of being an open book and coachable as a true freshman. She's got a solid foundation. She always keeps the ball in play and is a good putter and that's going to give her great opportunities to score."
 
…Lauren Thiele
"Lauren has made some adjustments to her golf game after playing in her first collegiate tournament earlier this year. I think she'll be very good at this golf course. She's a great ball-striker, very disciplined, and she's a great competitor.

The Shockers will next travel to Hot Springs, Arkansas to compete in the Little Rock Golf Classic from October 22nd to 24th.