FORT MYERS, Fla. — Julie Houston and Ana Gonzalez finished 1-2 to lead UTSA to the Conference USA Women's Golf Championship on Wednesday at Verandah Club.
Entering the final round with a four-shot lead over Old Dominion, the Roadrunners shot an even-par 288 and finished with a 10-over-par 874 to finish 13 strokes ahead of UTEP (887) and 17 in front of ODU (891).
The conference title is UTSA's third overall and first since winning back-to-back Southland Conference crowns in 2011-12. The Roadrunners' best C-USA finish since a runner-up showing in 2014 also extended the 13-year-old program's streak of finishing fourth or better at conference tournaments to 11 years.
"It's an amazing feeling to win, but it's still setting in right now," said first-year head coach Summer Batiste, who was a player on UTSA's back-to-back conference championship teams in 2011-12. "I knew this day could possibly come and I'm just happy that the team is getting to enjoy the feeling of winning a conference championship.
"The big thing was just focusing on what we're doing, what we can control, focusing on ourselves and not letting that leaderboard creep into anything that we're trying to do. The team did a great job of executing that. It was laser vision on what they were supposed to get done."
ODU made a charge early in the final round to catch the Roadrunners atop the leaderboard for a brief period, but UTSA made a strong push on the back nine to create separation before pulling away for the win. Of the four counting scorecards in the final round, the Birds registered seven birdies and 27 pars against just two bogeys during the final nine holes.
Houston edged Gonzalez by one shot to capture her first league crown and third career collegiate win. The junior from Allen, Texas, fired a 3-under 69 that was highlighted by five birdies, including four straight on Nos. 8-11 that helped propel UTSA to a comfortable lead. Houston, a two-time all-conference performer, finished with a 4-under 212 (73-70-69) on the strength of a tournament-best 13 birdies.
"I came in wanting to win with the goal in mind of winning as a team, and to do both is just awesome," Houston said. "It feels great and I can't even put it into words yet. I'm on cloud nine. My team won. It's just paradise.
"(The key) was my confidence and just knowing what I could do, and how well I have been playing this year and just this whole week. I think my confidence just grew and grew as I kept playing. As I was getting deeper into my rounds each day, I was attacking more pins and I was more confident over putts, so I think that really helped."
Houston became UTSA's fourth individual league champion, joining Fabiola Arriaga (2014 C-USA), Allie Jordan (2009 Southland) and Shannon Jungman (2012 Southland).
Gonzalez wrote down three birdies en route to a 2-under 70 on Wednesday. The freshman ended up in sole possession of second place with a 3-under 213 (70-73-70), the second runner-up finish of her debut season. She finished four shots ahead of Hanley Long of Middle Tennessee, who was third with a 1-over 217. Gonzalez, who hails from Monterrey, Mexico, registered 11 birdies and played the par fours at two under during the 54-hole event.
Houston and Gonzalez were named to the seven-member All-Tournament Team for their performances.
Becky McGeehan carded a 74 in the final round that featured a birdie on the par-4 third. The senior from Germany finished in 23rd place with a 226 (77-75-74).
Madison Kidd provided the other counter on Wednesday with a 75 that was buoyed by a trio of birdies on the back nine. The sophomore from Lake Jackson, Texas, finished in a tie for 25th with a 228 (75-78-75).
Nikki Long rounded out the UTSA lineup in a tie for 27th (76-74-79—229).
UTSA now will compete in an NCAA Regional for the fourth time in program history on May 7-9 at a site to be determined. Locations include Austin, Texas, Madison, Wis., Stanford, Calif., and Tallahassee, Fla. The NCAA Division I Women's Golf Selection Show is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. CT Wednesday, April 25, on the Golf Channel.
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