MUSKOGEE, Okla. — Arkansas Tech qualified for their fifth national championship in six years Tuesday as they took second place at the NCAA Central Region Championships. The Suns carded a total of 897 (+45). 
 
The Suns led the field after the first two rounds, but Southwestern Oklahoma came from behind using tournament-best second and third rounds to take first place with their total card of 893 (+41).
 
Peerada Piddon, the Great American Conference Women's Golfer of the Year, won the individual title with her total card of 216 (+3). She had the only two under-par rounds in the tournament. This is her second tournament win of the season. 
 
Meanwhile, Jacqueline Klemm, the GAC Freshman of the Year, improved by one stroke in each round and notched a total of 222 (+9), finishing in fourth place.  
 
Pia Nunbhakdi also landed within the top ten, carding a total of 228 (+15) and tying with two others for ninth place.
 
Sydney Staton (233, +20,T19) and Allie Weiner (238, +25, T37) rounded out the Suns' card.
 
Both Tech and Southwestern Oklahoma will advance to the national championship, along with third-place Northeastern State and fourth-place Central Missouri. Northeastern State carded a 913 (+61).
 
The field dropped off slightly after the first three places, leaving two teams battling for the final qualifying spot. Minnesota State and Central Missouri were still tied at 931 (+79) after 54 holes, and Central Missouri prevailed in a three-hole playoff to qualify. 
 
At last year's Central Region Championships, Arkansas Tech advanced to the national championships with their third-place finish, carding a total of 902. The Suns entered last year's national championships ranked at No. 24 in the nation, according to GolfStat. This year's team is currently ranked No. 9 in the nation. 
 
The national championship is May 14-18 at the PGA National Resort and Spa in West Palm Beach, Fla. 
 
 
FINAL TEAM RESULTS
 

POSITION	TEAM	1	2	3	TOTAL	+/-
1	SW Oklahoma	305	291	297	893	+41
2	Arkansas Tech	299	294	304	897	+45
3	Northeastern State	302	304	307	913	+61
T4	Central Missouri*	312	311	308	931	+79
T4	Minnesota State	317	310	304	931	+79
6	Central Oklahoma	312	314	309	935	+83
7	Henderson State	318	308	311	937	+85
8	Lindenwood	310	317	314	941	+89
9	Southern Nazarene	320	309	313	942	+90
10	Nebraska-Kearney	318	312	326	956	+104
11	Missouri Western	320	319	319	958	+106
12	Oklahoma Baptist	321	321	322	964	+112

 
*advanced on a three-hole playoff
 
FINAL INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
 

POSITION	PLAYER	SCHOOL	1	2	3	TOTAL	+/-
1	Peerada Piddon	Arkansas Tech	70	70	76	216	+3
T2	Gloria Choi	SW Oklahoma	73	72	73	218	+5
T2	Shi Qing Ong	Missouri Western	75	71	72	218	+5
4	Jacqueline Klemm	Arkansas Tech	75	74	73	222	+9
T9	Pia Nunbhakdi	Arkansas Tech	75	74	79	228	+15
T19	Sydney Staton	Arkansas Tech	79	78	76	233	+20
T37	Allie Weiner	Arkansas Tech	80	76	82	238	+25