PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico — Nikki Long and Julie Houston finished in the top 10 to lead the UTSA women's golf team to a runner-up effort at the Hawkeye El Tigre Invitational, which concluded on Tuesday at El Tigre Golf Club (par 72/6,085 yards).
Long tied for fifth place and Houston finished in a tie for ninth to help the Roadrunners card a 10-over 874 (297-294-283) for second behind Washington (873) in the 14-team field. UTSA was five strokes ahead of No. 49 Wisconsin (879) in turning in its third top-five showing of the spring season.
Long and Houston both fired a 1-under-par 71 in the final round, while Aimee Ponte led the team with a 3-under 69 to help the Roadrunners to a 5-under 283 on Tuesday.
Long tied for fifth in the 79-player field with a 1-over 217 (73-73-71). The junior from San Antonio wrote down five birdies in her final round, including four on the back nine, and finished the 54-hole tournament with nine.
Long also led all players in par-3 scoring at 2-under en route to her third top-five performance of the year. She finished three shots off the winning pace of 2-under 214 (72-72-70) set by Martina Edberg of Cal State Fullerton.
Houston had four of her team-high 10 birdies in Tuesday's round and finished tied for ninth with a 3-over 219 (75-73-71). It marked the Allen native's second top-10 showing of her sophomore season and sixth of her young collegiate career.
Madison Kidd was one shot behind Houston after registering a 220 (74-74-72) to tie for 12th place. The Lake Jackson native had nine birdies and played the par fours at 1-under on her way to the best finish of her debut campaign.
Ponte's 69 featured five birdies with four coming as part of a 32 on the back nine. The senior led the field in par-5 scoring at 6-under and finished in a tie for 20th with a 221 (75-77-69).
Becky McGeehan posted a 72 on the strength of two birdies to close out a 236 (80-74-72) and tie for 31st.
The Roadrunners will return to the course in two weeks when they travel to Fort Myers, Fla., for the Conference USA Championship (April 17-19).
