All There August Challenge
Kats capture team title in New Braunfels
2/15/2016 3:52:00 PM | Women's Golf
Entering the final 18 holes trailing by four strokes, the Sam Houston women's golf program picked the right time to surge, firing a two-day score of 26-over, 878, to win Texas State's All There August Challenge, hosted by Landa Park Golf Course in New Braunfels.
“This is the biggest regular season win we've ever had,” fourth-year head coach Brandt Kieschnick said. “This field was really deep. You had teams from all over the country. You had a highly ranked Middle Tennessee team and several others up there. Our team realizes they can win on a big stage.”
The Kats bested Long Beach State and Middle Tennessee, who each finished five strokes back at 31-over, 883. UTSA secured fourth at 35-over, 887 and Little Rock rounded out the top five at 41-over, 893.
After shooting 1-under through the opening 36 holes, Sarah Black posted a 4-over on the final 18 to finish in third place individually with a two-day score of 3-over, 216. The Andrews product earned her best finish in almost a year when she tied for first at last spring's Islanders Classic.
“She was tied for the lead with about six or seven holes to go,” Kieschnick said. “When you get in that situation, you are fighting your thoughts. She played solid and we talked about it afterward. She played as solid as anyone in that position could play.”
Teammate Heather Shake captured a fourth place tie at 4-over, 218. The junior transfer fired a second-round 69 to bounce back from her opening-round 75. On Monday, Shake shot 74 to retain the fourth-place tie with Stina Resen of Little Rock.
Sam Houston's Jenna Phillips finished tied for 26th using a second-round 74 and final-round 72, bouncing back from an opening-round 80 to shoot 13-over, 226. Nicole Budnik (73-79-75 – 227) finished 14-over in a tie for 29th and Celeste Lo (78-72-79 –229) moved up five spots on the final day in 35th.
For the Bearkats, the win comes in the opening spring tournament and is the second team title of the 2015-16 season with the first coming Sept. 29 at the Bob Hurley ORU Shootout in Tulsa, Okla. According to Kieschnick, it goes to show things are starting to pay off for the squad.
“This is a month-long unbelievable hard work,” Kieschnick said. “They are practicing the right way. They had a good game plan and executed. Our good is as good as anyone in the country. We took down a top 50 program. I couldn't be more excited about women's golf and our play. We looked like the most focused and disciplined team.”
The team returns to action next Monday at the Islander Classic. The two-day event takes place at Corpus Christi Country Club and is the second of five regular-season tournaments for the Bearkats building towards the league tournament in McKinney April 11-13.
