UTSA captures second straight C-USA titleUTSA captures second straight C-USA title
Conference USA
Women's Golf

UTSA captures second straight C-USA title

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Behind individual champion Ana Gonzalez, the UTSA women's golf team won its second straight Conference USA Championship on Wednesday at the Verandah Club.
 
Gonzalez ran away with the individual crown by five strokes to pace UTSA to a 12-shot victory. It marked the Roadrunners' second C-USA title and fourth overall league championship, as they also claimed back-to-back titles in 2011-12 as members of the Southland Conference.

UTSA entered the final round trailing No. 40 Old Dominion by one shot in the team standings. The Roadrunners fired a 7-under-par 281 — tied for the best round in school history — to race past the Monarchs, who posted a 295 and fell to third place. UTSA finished with a 10-under 854 (282-291-281) to set a new program standard for low 54-hole total by five shots and finish comfortably ahead of runner-up Charlotte (866) in the 12-team field.
 
"I couldn't be prouder of this team today," second-year head coach Summer Batiste said. "We have worked extremely hard to get to this point and to defend our title from 2018 feels amazing. 
 
"This year was different in the sense that we came from behind today. To end up with a 12-shot victory just shows the fight and determination this group of young ladies has. The sky is the limit for this team."
 
Meanwhile, Gonzalez carded a 9-under 207 to cruise to her second collegiate win in less than a month and the sixth top-10 showing of her sophomore season.
 
After opening the three-day event with a 69-67—136, Gonzalez turned in a 71 on the 6,194-yard, par-72 Old Orange layout in the final round. The 2018 C-USA Freshman of the Year and last year's league runner-up wrote down four birdies — including back-to-back on Nos. 14-15 — and finished with a tournament-best 15 while ending up five strokes in front of runner-up Kerri Parks of Marshall (212).

"I'm so proud of this team," said Gonzalez, who was named to the C-USA All-Tournament Team for the second consecutive year. "To be able to be called back-to-back champions is amazing. We all pulled together today and posted a great round. Individually, I'm really happy with my week and can't wait to get to NCAA Regionals."

The victory gives UTSA back-to-back C-USA medalists, as Gonzalez joins 2018 winner Julie Houston. The Monterrey, Mexico, native is the fifth Roadrunner to capture a conference crown and her 207 is tied for the second-best 54-hole scorecard in school annals behind the 205 she posted at the 2017 Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Championships. Gonzalez, who claimed top honors at the LSU Tiger Classic on March 29-31, also equaled the school record for victories in a season, joining Allie Jordan (2008-09) and Houston (2015-16).
 
"Ana put in a performance this week that shows just how super talented she is," said Batiste, the reigning C-USA Coach of the Year. "We see her ability every day and she's now starting to see the benefits of her hard work."
 
Houston, a senior from Allen High School, tied for eighth place with an even-par 216. The three-time all-conference performer matched Gonzalez with a final-round 71 that was highlighted by a stretch of three birdies in four holes on the back nine. Houston battled back from an opening-round 76 with a 3-under 69 on Tuesday that helped vault her all the way from a tie for 38th to the top 10, her fourth such finish this season.
 
Hannah Holzmann tied for 13th after posting a 3-over 219. The freshman from San Antonio posted a 2-under 70 in the final round on the strength of four birdies, three of which came on the back. She opened with a 71 on Monday before posting a 78 for the second round while registering her third top-20 showing of the season.
 
Brooke Nolte turned in UTSA's low round of the final day with a 3-under 69 that was buoyed by five birdies. The junior transfer out of Melissa, Texas, ended up in a tie for 15th with a 4-over 220 (73-78-69) for her top finish of her Roadrunners' debut season.
 
Madison Kidd rounded out the UTSA lineup in a tie for 33rd with a 225. The junior from Lake Jackson, Texas, carded a 3-under 69 in the opening round before posting a 77 and a 79 over the final two days.
 
UTSA's win is the third of the 2018-19 campaign and fourth of Batiste's young coaching career, and it marks the 12th victory in program history.
 
"I'm very lucky to have such a wonderful assistant (Daniel Park) by my side who coaches with a full heart and helps me keep the team focused," Batiste said. "Daniel was a key component this week in helping our players bounce back from tough rounds and shots. I'm looking forward to continuing our good work together for years to come."
 
The Roadrunners now will await word of their second consecutive and fifth overall postseason appearance when the NCAA Division I Women's Golf Selection Show airs at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 24, on the Golf Channel.