KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Nikki Long fired a final-round 72 to help lead UTSA to a 13th-place finish at the Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Championship, which concluded on Tuesday at Cherokee Country Club (par 71/5,897 yards).
Long's 1-over-par round followed a 76-74—150 that she posted on Monday and lifted the junior from San Antonio into a tie for 38th at 9-over 222. She wrote down four birdies, including three on the back nine, on Tuesday.
Aimee Ponte was one shot behind Long in a tie for 45th at 223. The senior from St. Sampson's, Guernsey, carded a 73 on the strength of four birdies on Tuesday after turning in a 74 and 76 during the first two rounds.
The Roadrunners bounced back from a pair of 302 on Monday with a 298 in the final round to close out a 902. They were just three shots back of Conference USA rival Middle Tennessee (899).
Julie Houston tied for 61st with a 228 (75-78-75), while Becky McGeehan and Madison Kidd rounded out the lineup in 67th (77-77-78—232) and 73rd (79-75-80—234), respectively. Competing as an individual, Lara Weinstein placed 77th (73-82-86—241).
Florida captured the team title with a 2-under 850. Illinois and Kent State tied for second (855) and BYU (864), Maryland (865) and host Tennessee (865) rounded out the top six teams.
Kent State's Pimnipa Panthong set a tournament record with an 8-under 205 to claim the individual crown.
The Roadrunners will continue their fall season on Oct. 9-10 at the Jim West Challenge in Houston.
