Shake, Budnik recognized by Southland
4/21/2016 11:01:00 AM | Women's Golf
HUNTSVILLE – With the release of the 2015-16 All-Southland Conference Women's Golf Teams on Thursday, the Sam Houston State program was well represented including a special honor for a first-year player on the team.
Sam Houston junior Heather Shake, a transfer from UH-Victoria, was named Southland Conference Newcomer of the Year as well as first-team all-conference after recording five top-10 finishes and the individual title at the Bob Hurley ORU Shootout.
Senior teammate Nicole Budnik was also awarded for her decorated season, being named to the second-team all-conference squad. Budnik, who has helped re-shape the program logged three top-10 finishers while winning the UTRGV Invitational title.
“You are seeing young talented players, play older than their years and you can come from a smaller school to a bigger school and develop quickly,” fourth-year head coach Brandt Kieschnick said. “What those girls have done confirms that each year we're doing the same thing and different players are getting well-deserved wins and accolades.”
Shake, who will return for her senior season looking to lead the Bearkats to their third league title and first since 2007, boasted a 76.24 average per round including a program-record low score of 67 in Tulsa. The Pearland product was one of just five players chosen to the first team.
“We knew she'd come in and be a very strong addition to the team,” Kieschnick said. “She had a lot of success at her previous school so we knew she could come in and win. We're glad she's a Bearkat and made the transition to Division I. She can shoot a lot under par and she's very coachable. She's trying to win so she listens to every word you say.”
For Budnik, the award concludes a decorated four-year career with the Bearkats. The two-time second-team conference honoree averaged a score of 75.88 and fired a low of 68, coming at the UTRGV Invitational, which she won, on the season.
“Nicole is a great example of a girl coming in under the radar and working hard,” Kieschnick said. “It's neat to see a girl who can come under the radar and excel. She has a great attitude and an amazing work ethic. She did some amazing thing for us.
“She's definitely leads by example. The (younger players) see her working hard and staying late and those players do it. She is a great role model for making the most of her game. She helped set that culture for us. Her leadership has been what we needed to compete at a high level.”
During the 2015-16 season, Sam Houston played in tournaments across six different stats including visits to Tennessee, Oklahoma, Washington, Arkansas and Florida. According to Kieschnick, the quality courses in the greater Houston area prepared the squad for those visits.
“When we go all over the country, they aren't surprised by a certain type of golf course,” Kieschnick said. “We play a lot of big golf courses with traps and water and you have to manage golf courses here, which is what you do when you travel. From course condition to a variety of courses to the championship-level courses we play, it really prepares us for anything.”
Shake secured fourth a week ago at the league championship, shooting an 8-over, 224, while Budnik finished tied for 18th at 18-over, 234. The Bearkats, who tied the leaderboard each day to finish fourth, also added two top team finishes this season and look to ride the momentum into their 2016-17 campaign.
“It's going to be one of the best teams we've ever had,” Kieschnick said. “You're going to see our expectations to have very low scores. We're going to have a very deep team. It will be hard to make the top five. Our expectations will be to have the same work ethic, win a conference championship and make the postseason on ranking.”
