ROGERS — Conway’s Summar Roachell learned Monday how quickly the door can shut in a professional golf event.
Playing as an amateur in the qualifier for the LPGA NW Arkansas Championship, Roachell was 1-over for 13 holes. With her short game shakier than usual, she was 6-over for the final five. to finish 12 strokes behind Samantha Richdale, who was the top qualifier at 5-under 66 at Pinnacle Country Club.
Yuki Sakurai also earned a spot in the field with a 4-under 67.
Roachell, a senior at Conway High, was coming off her second straight victory in the Bubba Conlee Memorial amateur tournament last week in Memphis, which attracted a national field.
Hendrix College senior second baseman Clark Sims and sophomore right fielder Collin Radack have been selected to the Natural State Baseball All-Arkansas Team.
Sims, a senior from North Little Rock, was named to the first team, while Radack, from Austin, Texas, was an honorable mention.
Sims ranked 19th in the country with a school-record 53 runs scored and 13th with seven triples. He also ranked third in the league with a .493 on-base percentage and was first with seven triples. Sims hit .372 with 14 doubles and 16 stolen bases to earn First Team All-Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference honors. He also earned CoSIDA Academic All-District and D3Baseball.com All-West Region Second Team honors.
Radack earned First Team All-SCAC honors, ranking 58th in the nation and fifth in the SCAC with 45 RBI. He was also fourth in the league with a .403 batting average and fourth with 64 hits go with 39 runs, 12 doubles, four triples, two homers and 13 stolen bases.
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas outfielder Sam Bates signed with the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday.
Bates, a senior, agreed to terms with the organization and will begin his professional baseball career with the Royals’ rookie league affiliate in Idaho Falls, Idaho. Bates, a Cabot native, was selected by Kansas City in the 28th round of the 2012 Major League Baseball Draft.
Bates hit .240 with six home runs and 25 RBI in 2012, finishing tied for second on the team in home runs. He played in 70 games, with 56 starts, during his two-year Arkansas career.
He is the second member of the 2012 team to sign a pro contract. Third baseman Matt Reynolds agreed to terms with the New York Mets on Monday after three seasons at Arkansas.