Kats close fall slate at UALR Hot Springs event
10/31/2015 4:57:00 PM | Women's Golf
The Sam Houston State women's golf program closes out its fall slate at UALR's three-day Little Rock Women's Golf Classic beginning Sunday at the par-72, 6,167-yard Diamonte Country Club in Hot Springs, Ark.
Sam Houston will be joined by Arkansas-Little Rock, Arkansas State, Central Arkansas, Eastern Michigan, Houston Baptist, ULM, UMKC, Missouri State, Oral Roberts, South Alabama, Stephen F. Austin, UTEP, Western Michigan and Wichita State.
The opening round tees off on Sunday at 8 a.m. with the second round slated to begin Monday at 9 a.m. and the final 18 scheduled for a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.
The Bearkats last competition came Oct. 12-13, when the squad took 10th among 15 teams at the Pat Lesser Harbottle Invitational in Tacoma, Wash. The Kats were led by Nicole Budnik's eight-place tie and fourth top-15 finish of the season at 7-over, 223.
Teammate Sarah Black took 28th at the event (16-over, 232) after going 1-under over the final six holes. While Heather Shake struggled at in her last outing, the impressive junior has an individual title and runner-up finish to her name, and will look to end the season on a high note.
Sam Houston's best finish this season came at the ORU Shootout when Shake posted a program-record tying 5-under, 67 opening round, to help lead the Kats to a team title. Budnik took 15th at the event, playing bogey-free golf over her final four holes each round.
The Bearkats last visited the Little Rock Women's Golf Classic two years ago, with Budnik placing 34th (76-80-83-239) while Sam Houston (322-322-326-970) placed 14th.
Live scoring will not be available for the event but fans are encouraged to visit GoBearkats.com for daily updates. Following the event, Sam Houston will have the winter break off from competition, returning Feb. 14-15 at the Texas State All There August Challenge in New Braunfels.
