Bearkat women claim Southland title
4/17/2019 6:53:00 PM | Women's Golf
MAGNOLIA – It was a day of firsts for the Bearkat women's golf team on Wednesday. Kenlie Barrett became the first Sam Houston freshman to win a Southland golf title and with the team victory, the Kats have punched their first ticket to the NCAA Regionals.
For Barrett, it was a couple of big shots on the back nine that propelled her to victory. On the par-5 13th, she chipped in for eagle to move her into the lead. Then on No. 16 she chipped on the green and saved par to remain one stroke up. On No. 17 Barrett, hit a perfect approach on the par 4 hole and sank her birdie putt to move to 3-under. A par save on No. 18 not only clinched the title for her, but for the team as well.
“It all started for me when I chipped in for eagle on 13,” she said. “It was a huge momentum shot. On 18th the thought I had was to get up and down. That back nine had played really well for me this week, so I was just trying to keep the same routine and not get ahead of myself.”
Today freshman @kenlie_barrett was showing all the emotions on her way to a round of 69 and a @SouthlandSports title for both her and @BearkatsWGolf pic.twitter.com/KFvcO1zL4p
— BearkatSportsNetwork (@BearkatVid) April 18, 2019
For the team, it was a back-and-forth battle all afternoon with Central Arkansas and Houston Baptist. The three teams were seemingly moving in and out of first on a hole-to-hole basis, with no team getting more than a three shot separation.
But much like Barrett, the Kats were able to make some big shots down the stretch to claim the third Southland Championship in school history. Tori Gatling birdied the par-3 16th and Hanna Alberto birdied on No. 13 as well. Jenna Phillips settled in after a double bogey and bogey on Nos. 8 and 9, to par seven straight and play the back 9 at 1-over. The Kats ended up winning by two shots over Central Arkansas and four over Houston Baptist.
“This is just a special group of girls,” said head coach Brandt Kieschnick. “I loved how the girls and our staff just took it one shot at a time and went out there and did it.”
Barrett becomes the fourth Bearkat to win a Southland title and the first since Shelby Hardy in 2013. The win is the first Southland title for the program since 2007, before the Southland Conference received an automatic bid to the NCAA championships.
“It has been too long,” Kieschnick said. “When I got here the guys hadn't won since 1994 for and it was 2007 for the women, and that was just way too long. This was our goal, and I'm just so happy for them.”
In addition to Barrett, the Kats placed three in the top 10, with Alberto finishing in a tie for third at 2-over for the championship. Gatling finished tied for 10th at 6-over, shooting a 73 on Wednesday.
The victory earns the Bearkats a spot in the NCAA Regionals May 6-8.
