Oklahoma State University Athletics
2025 Spring Preview: New-look Cowgirls look to continue program’s winning ways
January 31, 2025 | Cowgirl Golf
STILLWATER - The 21st-ranked Oklahoma State women's golf team, led by sixth-year head coach Greg Robertson, is looking to make its fifth straight trip to the NCAA Championships, accompanied by a group of newcomers.
During the fall season, the Cowgirls claimed a runner-up title at the Dale McNamara Invitational and placed well in several other stacked fields. This includes a tie for fourth at the Jackson T. Stephens Cup and a fifth-place finish at the Charles Schwab Women's Collegiate Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas. The team enters the Spring as the third highest ranked Big 12 school, sitting behind newcomers, No. 8 Arizona and No. 9 Arizona State.
"We are really looking forward to getting the spring season started in a few days," Robertson said. "After a three-month break following our last tournament in the Fall, everyone is ready to start competing again. I think the break was good for us to get some rest and to heal up from a few injuries."
Grace Kilcrease, the junior transfer from Tulsa, has had as good a start as you can have. In her first tournament as a Cowgirl, Kilcrease won the Carmel Cup at Pebble Beach with a final-round 69. She became the program's 104th individual champion and Robertson's 17th. Her following act was a program-record 63 in round two of the Schooner Fall Classic. Kilcrease shot 7-under on the day, which was also the second-best round against par in school history.
She earned a top 10 placement in all five of the fall tournaments, the longest streak of top 10's since Isabella Fierro in the 2020-21 season. Kilcrease finished the fall as the 13th-ranked golfer in the nation. Kilcrease was ranked as high as No. 2 and enters the spring at No. 13.
Returners Ellie Bushnell and Thitaporn Saithip have provided steady leadership through their golf games, as well as the team's second and third lowest stroke averages behind Kilcrease (73.54 and 73.57, respectively).
Saithip earned the best finish of her career with a T-4 at the Charles Schwab Women's Collegiate Challenge, while Bushnell tied a career-low with a 67 during the Dale McNamara Invitational.
Three freshmen join the Cowgirls for the 2024-25 campaign and all three played in more than half of the fall tournaments. Summer Lee has led the freshman, playing in every tournament in the Fall and placing top 20 in three of them.
Thailand-native Tarapath Panya has been a spark for the Cowgirls, earning a seventh-place finish in her first collegiate tournament at the Dale McNamara Invitational. It was the best finish by a Cowgirl in her collegiate debut since 2018. Rounding out the freshman is Lucy Darr. The Stillwater native has been a steady performer, earning the lowest scoring average vs. par out of the three freshmen.
"I'm looking forward to seeing how this young team progresses throughout the season," Robertson said. "We showed some promise in the fall with signs of being a very competitive team. Now we just need to build on that this spring. We've had some good practice over the last couple of weeks, so we should be prepared and ready to go for this first event."
Cowgirl Golf tees off the spring campaign on Monday at the FAU Paradise Invitational, with individuals competing at the Texas State Invitational, also on Monday.
For season-long coverage of Oklahoma State women's golf, visit okstate.com or @Cowgirlgolf on social media.
During the fall season, the Cowgirls claimed a runner-up title at the Dale McNamara Invitational and placed well in several other stacked fields. This includes a tie for fourth at the Jackson T. Stephens Cup and a fifth-place finish at the Charles Schwab Women's Collegiate Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas. The team enters the Spring as the third highest ranked Big 12 school, sitting behind newcomers, No. 8 Arizona and No. 9 Arizona State.
"We are really looking forward to getting the spring season started in a few days," Robertson said. "After a three-month break following our last tournament in the Fall, everyone is ready to start competing again. I think the break was good for us to get some rest and to heal up from a few injuries."
Grace Kilcrease, the junior transfer from Tulsa, has had as good a start as you can have. In her first tournament as a Cowgirl, Kilcrease won the Carmel Cup at Pebble Beach with a final-round 69. She became the program's 104th individual champion and Robertson's 17th. Her following act was a program-record 63 in round two of the Schooner Fall Classic. Kilcrease shot 7-under on the day, which was also the second-best round against par in school history.
She earned a top 10 placement in all five of the fall tournaments, the longest streak of top 10's since Isabella Fierro in the 2020-21 season. Kilcrease finished the fall as the 13th-ranked golfer in the nation. Kilcrease was ranked as high as No. 2 and enters the spring at No. 13.
Returners Ellie Bushnell and Thitaporn Saithip have provided steady leadership through their golf games, as well as the team's second and third lowest stroke averages behind Kilcrease (73.54 and 73.57, respectively).
Saithip earned the best finish of her career with a T-4 at the Charles Schwab Women's Collegiate Challenge, while Bushnell tied a career-low with a 67 during the Dale McNamara Invitational.
Three freshmen join the Cowgirls for the 2024-25 campaign and all three played in more than half of the fall tournaments. Summer Lee has led the freshman, playing in every tournament in the Fall and placing top 20 in three of them.
Thailand-native Tarapath Panya has been a spark for the Cowgirls, earning a seventh-place finish in her first collegiate tournament at the Dale McNamara Invitational. It was the best finish by a Cowgirl in her collegiate debut since 2018. Rounding out the freshman is Lucy Darr. The Stillwater native has been a steady performer, earning the lowest scoring average vs. par out of the three freshmen.
"I'm looking forward to seeing how this young team progresses throughout the season," Robertson said. "We showed some promise in the fall with signs of being a very competitive team. Now we just need to build on that this spring. We've had some good practice over the last couple of weeks, so we should be prepared and ready to go for this first event."
Cowgirl Golf tees off the spring campaign on Monday at the FAU Paradise Invitational, with individuals competing at the Texas State Invitational, also on Monday.
For season-long coverage of Oklahoma State women's golf, visit okstate.com or @Cowgirlgolf on social media.
Players Mentioned
/ Cowgirl Golf
/ Cowgirl Golf
/ Cowgirl Golf
/ Cowgirl Golf
/ Cowgirl Golf
/ Cowgirl Golf
Friday, June 05
Friday, May 29
Wednesday, May 27
Monday, May 18
