SAN ANTONIO — UTSA will travel to the Sunshine State this week for the Conference USA Championship, which will be contest from Monday-Wednesday at Verandah Club (par 72/6,194 yards) in Fort Myers, Fla.
The Roadrunners will compete against FIU, Florida Atlantic, Marshall, Middle Tennessee, North Texas, Old Dominion, Southern Miss, UAB, UTEP and WKU. The field will play 18 holes with tee times beginning at 7 a.m. (CT) each day.
The Roadrunners finished in a fourth-place tie at last year's conference championship. Becky McGeehan tied for 10th with a 224 (74-76-74), while Julie Houston tied for 16th (79-71-77—227) to lead the way.
UTSA has captured a pair of league team titles, winning back-to-back Southland Conference championships in 2011-12. The Roadrunners have finished second twice (2009 Southland, 2014 C-USA), and are riding a nine-year streak of placing fourth or better at conference tournaments. Three Roadrunners have claimed individual crowns — Fabiola Arriaga (2014 C-USA), Allie Jordan (2009 Southland) and Shannon Jungman (2012 Southland).
The Roadrunners are coming off a runner-up showing at the Hawkeye El Tigre Invitational on April 2-4 in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Nikki Long tied for fifth with a 217 (73-73-71) and earned her third C-USA Athlete of the Week honor of the season for her performance.
What: Conference USA Women's Golf Championship
When: Monday-Wednesday, April 17-19
Where: Verandah Club (Fort Myers, Fla.)
Par: 72
Yardage: 6,194
Format: 54 holes, stroke play
Tournament Field: FIU, Florida Atlantic, Marshall, Middle Tennessee, North Texas, Old Dominion, Southern Miss, UAB, UTEP, UTSA, WKU
Live Scoring: golfstat.com
2016 Team Champion: Middle Tennessee +12 (876)
2016 Individual Champion: Meghan MacLaren, FIU -3 (213)
UTSA Lineup
Nikki Long, Jr. (San Antonio, Texas)
• Leads UTSA with a 74.54 stroke average
• Tied for fourth with a 221 (72-75-74) to help UTSA win the Texas State Invitational
• Fired a 4-under 212 (70-71-71) to tie for fifth at The Dickson
• Three-time Conference USA Player of the Week this spring
Julie Houston, So. (Allen, Texas)
• Stands third on the squad with a 74.96 stroke average
• Tied for fourth with a 221 (72-73-76) to help UTSA win the Texas State Invitational
• Fired a 219 (75-73-71) to tie for ninth at the Hawkeye El Tigre Invitational
• 2016 Conference USA Freshman of the Year
Madison Kidd, Fr. (Lake Jackson, Texas)
• Carded a 220 (74-74-72) to tie for 12th at the Hawkeye El Tigre Invitational
• Finished 40th with a 236 (78-78-80) at the BYU at Entrada Classic
• Tied for 52nd with a 226 (75-77-74) at the Maryb S. Kauth Invitational
• All-state performer at Brazoswood High School
Aimee Ponte, Sr. (St. Sampson's, Guernsey)
• Ranks second on the team with a 74.82 stroke average
• Tied for 10th with a 2-under-par 214 (75-69-70) at the Maryb S. Kauth Invitational
• Carded a 228 (75-78-75) to tie for 16th and help UTSA win the Texas State Invitational
• Finished 15th with a 224 (77-73-74) at the BYU at Entrada Classic
Becky McGeehan, Jr. (Gutersloh, Germany)
• Owns a 76.93 stroke average
• Tied for 25th with a 231 (76-77-78) to help UTSA win the Texas State Invitational
• Carded a 222 (75-73-74) to tie for 37th at the Maryb S. Kauth Invitational
• Tied for 10th with a 224 (74-76-74) at the 2016 C-USA Championship