AUSTIN — Ana Gonzalez and Nikki Long placed in the top 35 to lead the UTSA women's golf team its best NCAA postseason finish and score at the Austin Regional, which wrapped up Wednesday at the University of Texas Golf Club (par 72/6,341 yards).
The Roadrunners finished 12th with an 892 (298-295-299) in the 18-team field, seven shots ahead of No. 13 seed and 49th-ranked Texas Tech (899) and just two strokes behind seven seed and No. 25 Houston (890). UTSA also finished ahead of Houston Baptist (910), eighth-seeded and No. 30 Miami (914), Georgetown (917), Missouri State (946) and 48th-ranked East Carolina (DNF).
Making the fourth NCAA Regional appearance in school annals, the 12th-place finish by the Conference USA Champions eclipsed the 16th-place showing at the 2011 West Regional. The 892 was 12 shots better than the 904 registered at the 2013 Central Regional in a 17th-place effort.
"I'm very proud of this team for the way they played all week," said first-year head coach Summer Batiste, the Conference USA Coach of the Year. "This is a special group. They work diligently both on the course and in the classroom.
"We handled the course well this week. It sets up really nice for us. We just lost a few shots here and there, but everyone stayed right in there. The team kept a very positive attitude, which led us to our best showing at regionals to date."
Gonzalez turned in the best NCAA Regional scorecard and finish in the 13-year history of the program after firing a 4-over-par 220 (75-70-75) to tie for 29th and place ahead of five top-50 players. The C-USA Freshman of the Year registered her second 3-over 75 of the tournament on the final day on the strength of three birdies, two as part of a 37 on the front nine. Gonzalez, a native of Monterrey, Mexico, led the Roadrunners with nine birdies and she played the par threes at 2-under for the event.
The previous top individual finish and score in school history were registered by Paola Valerio at the 2013 Central Regional when she tied for 30th with a 221 (76-72-73).
Meanwhile, Long capped her UTSA career with a 2-over 74 on Wednesday. The San Antonio Johnson High School product posted a pair of birdies, including a four on her final hole, the 526-yard ninth. Long, the reigning C-USA Scholar Athlete of the Year and a two-time all-league performer, finished in a tie for 34th with a 221 (70-77-74), now tied for the second-best NCAA Regional scorecard in UTSA history.
Madison Kidd matched Long with a 74 in the final round behind a pair of birdies. The sophomore from Lake Jackson, Texas, wrote down threes on the 348-yard first and 359-yard 15th en route to tying for 49th with a 226 (76-76-74).
Julie Houston also had a couple of birdies as part of a 76 on the final day, recording a three on No. 1 and a four on the 495-yard 14th. The C-USA Individual Champion and first-team all-conference selection tied for 62nd with a 229 (81-72-76).
Becky McGeehan carded an 80 that was highlighted by a birdie on the 14th and the senior from Germany finished 86th with a 240 (77-83-80) in her final collegiate event.
"It was great to see all of our UTSA supporters out there," Batiste said. "With all of the support from our athletic department and families, it felt like we were playing at home.
"I want to thank everyone for showing up and supporting, the team for giving their all, and most of all, my assistant, Kelley Nittoli, for helping to guide UTSA to a successful year. She plays a big part in our program and we are very lucky to have her. This was a great year for UTSA and I'm proud to be a Roadrunner."
Top seed and No. 3 Arkansas captured the team title with an 838 behind individual medalist Maria Fassi's 8-under 208 (69-70-69). No. 8 and second-seeded Texas was the runner-up with an 849, followed by a three-way tie for third (869) between No. 14 Florida, 19th-ranked Auburn and No. 35 Baylor. No. 21 Oklahoma claimed the sixth and final spot for the NCAA Championships with an 870.
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