CORPUS CHRISTI — The UTSA women's golf team won its first-ever Southland Conference Championship on Wednesday at Corpus Christi Country Club.
The Roadrunners, who defeated Lamar by seven strokes, shot a final-round 297 and not only captured their first title in just their sixth year of competition, but they also picked up the athletics department's record fifth championship of 2010-11 (men's basketball, soccer, men's indoor track & field, volleyball are the others). UTSA finished the three-day event with a final scorecard of 900 (306-297-297).
"This was the result of a lot of hard work and it was a team effort all three days," third-year head coach Carrie Parnaby said. "These ladies played their hearts out and I'm so proud of each of them. They completely deserve it and it's a great day for UTSA Golf."
Freshman Fabiola Arriaga, who brought a two-stroke lead into the day, shot a three-over 75 in the third round and finished in a tie for the top spot on the individual leaderboard with Lamar's Stine Pedersen at 223. It took three sudden-death playoff holes to decide the medalist after the Torreon, Mexico, natve birdied No. 18 to force a playoff. Pedersen was able to complete her comeback on the 21st hole of the day. Arriaga, who opened the tournament with rounds of 75 and 73, was attempting to become the program's second medalist in the last three seasons (Allie Jordan won the 2009 title).
All told, four Roadrunners finished in the top five.
Freshman Taylor Newlin posted her best placing of the season, fourth, after carding a 74 on the final day and the Frisco native finished with a 226 (80-72-74).
Meanwhile, junior Shannon Jungman and sophomore Paola Valerio finished tied for fifth at 228.
Jungman recorded her third consecutive round of 76, including a birdie on No. 17, for her best finish of the season, while Valerio's lone birdie came on No. 8 and the Mexico City native shot a 77 after opening with rounds of 75 and 76.
Junior Summer Batiste fired the squad’s low round of the day, an even-par 72, to move up to a tie for 14th with a 232 (81-79-72). The Spring native shot one-under on the front nine and recorded birdies on Nos. 1, 8, 11 and 15.
UTSA will learn its NCAA Regional destination on Monday when the three 24-team fields are announced. Each regional — scheduled to be played in Daytona Beach, Fla. (East/Stetson host), South Bend, Ind. (Central/Notre Dame host) and Auburn, Wash. (West/Washington host) — will take place from May 5-7.
