Chang garners Southland honor

Sophomore golfer Wenny Chang seems to be peaking at just the right time. The Hsinchu, Taiwan native has been named Southland Conference Golfer of the Month announced league officials Wednesday afternoon. It marks the first monthly superlative for Lamar this season, and it is the final award before the Lady Cardinals open Southland Conference play next week.

Chang posted back-to-back runner-up finishes in Lamar’s previous two tournaments. Chang carded a three-round 218 to earn runner-up honors at the HBU Husky Invitational. She followed that up by recording an almost identical score the following week at the Wyoming Cowgirl Classic (222). Chang had to rally for a strong finish at the Wyoming tournament, after opening with a four-over par. She battled back to record consecutive subpar rounds missing the individual title by only two strokes.

Chang recorded a 73.3 stroke average through six rounds of action, which included three subpar rounds. She fired a one-under 71 in the opening round of the HBU Husky Invitational, and in the final rounds of the Wyoming Cowgirl Classic.

As a team the Lady Cardinals followed Chang’s lead. Lamar finished second at the HBU Husky Invitational, and third at the Wyoming Cowgirl Classic. More impressive than the finish in the Wyoming tournament, was Lamar’s rally to get into the top five. LU was mired in a three-way tie for 16th barely nine holes into the tournament. Big Red mounted a rally in the final holes of the opening round, and their solid play continued throughout the final two rounds of the tournament.

Chang, and the rest of the Lady Cardinals go in search of a bigger prize Monday when they open the first round of play in the Southland Conference Championships. Lamar enters the championships looking to win its third-straight title.