Kats begin fall slate Monday in Memphis
9/13/2015 10:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
The Sam Houston State women's golf program begins its 2015-16 schedule on Monday, venturing out to Memphis, Tenn., and Ridgeway Country Club for the two-day FedEx Memphis Intercollegiate.
The Bearkats will be among 15 teams in the field including quality competitors like Ole Miss, UAB and Cincinnati, something ninth-year women's head coach Tommy Chain says is important when putting together the schedule.
“I've always tried to pick tournaments and improve the schedule as far as the courses we play and the strength of the field,” Chain said. “It's really important for these girls to match up with some Division I schools with strong programs. I want them to see that we can compete with these girls.”
The Bearkats will play two rounds Monday and their final round Tuesday, with live scoring from Memphis's oldest country club available through BirdieFire.com.
Sam Houston returns sophomore Sarah Black, junior Celeste Lo and senior Nicole Budnik and welcomes in freshmen Nicole Dillon and Jenna Phillips in addition to UH-Victoria transfer Heather Shake. Budnik, the squad's lone senior, says the squad has the parts in place to have a successful fall.
“I feel this team has a great attitude,” Budnik said. “We've worked hard and tried to improve. We get along well and as a team we go out and support one another. Our goal is to win as many tournaments that we can and if not place in the top five.”
The Kats are coming off a fifth-place finish at the Southland Conference Tournament last season, but posted a strong fall in 2014, logging three second-place appearances and one first-place finisher.
“My main objective is for us to get that momentum going into the spring and keep it going,” Chain said. “We want to be one of the top choices at conference, which is a difficult thing because the offseason is so long. At Christmas time, when the weather isn't so good, we want them to do the things they need to do for the spring.”
Sam Houston will participate in five fall tournaments including the two-day, 54-hole Bearkat Women's Invitational, Oct. 5-6 at Raven Nest Golf Course. One notable tournament on the slate is Pat Lesser Harbottle Invitational hosted by the University of Seattle from Tacoma, Wash.
“I got to play in Seattle a couple summers ago and it's really pretty out there,” Budnik said. “It has different scenery and great competition. I'm also excited to go to UALR. It's a nice course and we've always played when it's cold so hopefully this time, its better weather.”
For the latest on Sam Houston women's golf, follow @SHSUWomenGolf on Twitter and visit GoBearkats.com.
