NORMAN, Okla. — Nikki Long tied for 13th to lead the UTSA women’s golf team to a 10th-place finish at the season-opening Schooner Fall Classic, which wrapped up on Monday at Belmar Golf Club (5,901 yards/par 71).
Long opened the event with a 2-under-par 69 on Saturday and after Sunday’s round was canceled due to inclement weather, the sophomore closed with a 1-over 72 today to end up in a three-way tie for 13th in the 66-player field. The San Antonio Johnson High School product, who played in the U.S, Women’s Open this summer, finished at 1-under 141, the best 36-hole tally of her UTSA career. She recorded seven birdies and played the par fives at 3-under.
Aimee Ponte fired the Roadrunners’ low round of the tournament with a career-best 4-under 67, which also was tied for the second-best score in the field on Monday. The junior from Guernsey wrote down six of her team-high nine birdies during her final 18, including four as part of a 4-under 32 on the front nine. She finished in a tie for 26th at 2-over 144 (77-67).
Brogan Townend tied for 41st with a 72-78—150, while Julie Houston and Becky McGeehan rounded out the UTSA lineup in 51st (77-77—154) and 65th (78-84—162), respectively.
The Roadrunners carded a 295-294—589 to place 10th, 13 shots ahead of Troy (602) and 23 in front of Tulsa (612). Oklahoma State captured the team title with a 14-under 564 and they were followed by Texas A&M (561), Mississippi State (565), Kansas (566) and Notre Dame (567) in the top five.
Kansas' Yupaporn Kawinpakorn claimed individual medalist honors with a 63-68—131.
UTSA will return to action in two weeks when they compete in the Jim West Challenge at Tapatio Springs Golf Club in Boerne. The three-day event is scheduled for Oct. 4-6.