Bearkat Women's Invitational
Shake runner-up, Kats sixth at home tournament
10/6/2015 4:28:00 PM | Women's Golf
Sam Houston State golf's Heather Shake secured a tie for second among 81 competitors after firing a 5-over, 218, at the two-day Bearkat Women's Invitational, as the squad took sixth at 62-over, 914, from the par-71, 6,067-yard Raven Nest Golf Club.
Shake (70-71-77) entered the final round in first at 1-under, 141, but was eventually caught and passed by Houston Baptist's Brook Johnston (68-76-73), who took the individual medalist by one stroke and helped the Huskies run away with a 20-stroke team win behind a 30-over, 882.
“We've been working really hard every day, trying to get better at everything, especially our short game,” Shake said. “I'm glad I got to see the field for the future with conference. I think we're striking the ball well and we'll spend a lot of time on our short game moving forward.”
The junior transfer from UH-Victoria posted a first place finish last week at Oral Roberts, and despite falling out of the lead on the final 18, ninth-year head coach Tommy Chain believes she has much to be proud of.
“I know she's disappointed, but she still finished second, one shot out of first,” Chain said. “I don't think I can remember having a girl finish first one week and second the next here at Sam. I know she will continue to shoot great rounds and lead the team to hopefully more championships like we had at ORU.”
The Huskies' Aries Ramirez (72-74-72) finished tied with Shake and three total HBU players logged top-10 finishes. Sam Houston's Nicole Budnik (73-77-73) moved up four spots on the final day, finishing in a tie for 15th at 11-over, 224.
Meanwhile, Sarah Black (80-77-79) finished 23-over, 236 in a tie for 42nd, Celeste Lo (79-83-76) moved up two spots to take a tie for 52nd at 25-over, 238 and Jenna Phillips (83-84-77) pushed her way up the leaderboard five spots to capture a tie for 58th at 31-over, 44. Nicole Dillon (82-87-80), who was playing as an individual, leapt three places to claim 64th at 36-over, 249.
“The girls did play better overall today,” Chain said. “I was happy to see them regain their focus, bounce back and shoot three to five shots lower than yesterday. Maybe that will carry over. We leave right away Saturday for our next event, so we don't have much time to prepare.”
The tournament, which replaced the five-year running co-ed Harold Funston Invitational, saw 15 teams compete, including seven of eight Southland Conference schools. The league took seven of the top eight spots, with Southern Mississippi's fourth-place mark, the only exemption.
“It was great (to be at home),” Shake said. “We were very comfortable being here because we know the golf course and we know the people. It was a comfortable feeling.”
Central Arkansas (50-over, 902) took second, Lamar placed third (51-over, 903), Texas A&M-Corpus Christi captured fifth (59-over, 911) and McNeese State and Stephen F. Austin finished tied for seventh at 66-over, 918.
“I am very excited to see seven of the eight conference schools here,” Chain said. “I am hoping the tournament will continue in the future to be this way to be an 'early season, flex your muscles against the other conference schools.' I am taking away those positives as what we need to work on and how much better we need to get to be competitive before we see those schools again.”
Sam Houston returns to action next Monday at the two-day Pat Lesser Harbottle Invitational from Tacoma Country and Golf Club in Tacoma, Wash. For the latest, follow @SHSUWomenGolf and visit GoBearkats.com.
