IOWA CITY, Iowa — Olivia Williams tied for fifth place to record the best finish of her UTSA career and help guide the women’s golf team to a fourth-place showing at the Diane Thomason Invitational on Tuesday at Finkbine Golf Course (par 72/6,437 yards).
Williams logged her top finish as a Roadrunner after recording a 225 for the 54-hole tournament. The junior from England opened with a 2-under-par 70 and then carded a 74 on Monday afternoon to position herself within one shot of the leader. She closed with an 81 on Tuesday in windy conditions, settling into a three-way share of fifth in the field of 81 golfers. Her second career top-10 finish eclipsed her previous top placement of 10th at the 2023 Badger Invitational.
In the team standings, the Roadrunners entered the final round in fourth and they remained in that position with a 296-305-315—916, two shots behind Montana State and four back of runner-up Wisconsin. UTSA ended up five strokes ahead of North Dakota State and eight better than Missouri State in the 15-team field. It marked the Roadrunners’ second top-five team finish in three events this fall and the 31st for eighth-year head coach Summer Batiste.
Daniela Abonce nearly posted her fifth career top 10, tying for 11th with a 228. The junior out of Veracruz, Mexico, carded rounds of 73 and 76 on Monday before turning in a 79 in the final round on the strength of a pair of birdies.
Maria Bastarrica had UTSA’s top score of the day with a 77 that was highlighted by a birdie on the 378-yard, par-4 fifth hole. The sophomore from Spain ended up with a share of 25th place after opening the event with an 80-76—156 on Monday.
Morgan Ellison tied for 30th (76-80-78—234) and Sydney Bisgrove placed 47th (77-79-83—239) closed out the UTSA lineup.
Iowa captured the team title with a 906 while Montana State’s Becca Tschetter claimed the individual crown with a 3-over-par 219 (73-73-73).
The Roadrunners will return to action on Oct. 14-15 when they travel to Oklahoma for the Dale McNamara Invitational.
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