NEW BRAUNFELS — Julie Houston won the individual title and UTSA finished fourth at the All There August Challenge, which wrapped up on Monday at Landa Park Golf Course (par 71/5,885 yards).
Houston, who was competing as an individual and not in the UTSA lineup, entered the final round with a three-shot advantage on the field after posting a pair of 2-under-par 69s on Sunday. The freshman from Allen held on by one stroke for her first collegiate victory after turning in a 76 on Monday, as she registered 15 of her tournament-best 41 pars in windy conditions. Houston’s 54-hole total of 1-over 214 was just ahead of Kassidy Teare of Long Beach State (215) and Sarah Black of Sam Houston State (216).
“Although I didn't have the best round today, I'm very happy with how I performed in this tournament,” Houston said. “I was confident going in and it's nice to see all the hard work pay off.”
Houston’s victory marked the 11th individual title in program history — all under eighth-year head coach Carrie Parnaby — and the first since Fabiola Arriaga captured the 2014 Conference USA crown. Her 54-hole score is the best in her short UTSA career and is tied for seventh-best tally in school annals.
“Julie really deserves this win,” Parnaby said. “She worked very hard during the offseason and she is one of the toughest competitors I have coached. We are all so proud of her and how she represents UTSA on a daily basis, not just this week at this tournament. To win as a freshman is a big accomplishment. I know this will spur her on to even greater things.”
The Roadrunners finished fourth in the team standings on the strength of a pair of top-10 finishes from Nikki Long and Aimee Ponte.
Long tied for sixth place after carding a 6-over 219 that featured a pair of 72s sandwiched around a 75. The sophomore from San Antonio Johnson High School wrote down three of her eight birdies for the event en route to a final-round 72 and season-best finish.
Ponte was one shot behind Long in a tie for ninth place — also a season best — at 7-over 220. After recording a 2-under 69 on Sunday afternoon, the junior from Guernsey posted a 74 on Monday and led all players by playing the par fours at 3-under.
Brogan Townend placed 12th with a 222. The senior from England turned in rounds of 75, 70 and 77 in recording her second straight top-12 showing.
Becky McGeehan and Lara Weinstein rounded out the lineup in 29th (78-71-78—227) and 38th (77-76-78—231), respectively.
UTSA finished in fourth with an 887 (301-285-301), four shots out of a tie for runner-up between Long Beach State and Middle Tennessee. Sam Houston State claimed the team title with an 878, while Little Rock (893), host Texas State (894), Houston Baptist (901), Georgia Southern (911), Boise State (916) and Idaho (923) finished out the top 10.
The Roadrunners will return to the course next week when they travel to Corpus Christi to compete in the Islanders Classic. The two-day event will start next Monday, Feb. 22.