University of Houston Athletics
Sunday, October 22
Kissing Tree Golf Club – San Marcos, Texas
University of Houston
vs
Jim West Challenge
Women’s Golf Tied for Lead after First Day at Jim West Challenge
10/22/2023 7:13:00 PM | Women's Golf
Live Scoring (GolfStat)Pairings (GolfStat)Kissing Tree Golf Club2023-24 ScheduleSupport Houston RiseJoin P.A.R. 4 Club
Freshman Maelynn Kim tied for 12th at 139; Final Round tees off Monday morning at Kissing Tree Golf Club
SAN MARCOS, Texas – The University of Houston Women's Golf program stood a tie for first following the first day of the Jim West Challenge at Kissing Tree Golf Club on Sunday evening.
After posting a score of 14-under 274 in the First Round, #26 Houston followed with a team total of 287 in the afternoon session to join host #39 SMU and host Texas State at 15-under 561. #43 UNLV (563), Texas Tech (563), New Mexico (567), Oklahoma (568), Cal Poly (570), #29 Oklahoma State (573) and #50 UTSA (577) completed the Top 10.
Freshman Maelynn Kim overcame slow starts in each round to stand in a tie for 12th at 5-under 139 to lead the Cougars.
Starting off No. 9, the Katy, Texas, native made birdie on her first hole but endured three straight bogeys at Nos. 11-13. Fortunately, Kim rebounded with a birdie on No. 16 and drained and eagle-3 at the 473-yard 17th hole before making another birdie at No. 18.
Following back-to-back pars at Nos. 1-2, Kim made birdie on every other hole starting at No. 3 to finish with a 69.
Kim posted the Cougars' low round in the afternoon session as well with a 70. Starting with a birdie at No. 9, she fought through three bogeys in a four-hole stretch at Nos. 10-13 with two birdies and her second eagle of the day at No. 18 in a three-hole stretch.
The Seven Lakes High School product added consecutive birdies on Nos. 4-5.
This was Kim's first action since tying for 17th at the Schooner Fall Classic in late September. The Katy, Texas, native made her LGPA debut as an amateur at The Ascendant LPGA benefiting Volunteers of America at Old American Golf Club in The Colony, Texas on Oct. 5-8, tying for 88th.
She earned an exemption into that event after winning The Ascendant LPGA benefiting Volunteers of America Girls Championship during the summer.
Senior Nicole Abelar was in 14th at 4-under 140 for Houston. Starting her First Round off No. 10, the Manila native sank three birdies in a four hole stretch at Nos. 14-17 and then made three straight birdies on Nos. 1-3 to finish with a 67.
Sophomore Moa Svedenskiold was tied for 20th at 2-under 142. The Halmstad, Sweden, native led the Cougars with a 67 in the First Round for her 10th straight round of par or lower to open the season.
Sophomore Alexa Saldana and junior Hyeonji Kan were tied for 25th at 143 while freshman Ellen Yates – playing as an individual – was tied for 48th at 148.
Oklahoma's Savannah Butler held the first-day lead at 134. McKenzi Hall (UNLV), Matilda Svahn (Texas State), Lauren Lehigh (New Mexico) and Marine Griffaut (Texas State) were tied for second at 135 with Hailey Jones (Texas State) in sixth at 136.
The Final Round begins with an 8:30 a.m., shotgun start Monday.
LIVE SCORING
Fans can follow live scoring at the Jim West Challenge on GolfStat by clicking here.
PAIRINGS
For Monday's Final Round, Houston will compete in groups with student-athletes from host Texas State and #39 SMU.
Abelar begins in the first group off No. 1 with Kim (second group off No. 1), Svedenskiold (No. 2), Kang (first group off No. 3) and Saldana (second group off No. 3) following. Yates will start her Final Round in the first group off No. 16.
Fans can find complete pairings on GolfStat by clicking here.
UP NEXT
Following the Jim West Challenge, the Cougars will take their holiday break. Houston returns to action to open its spring season at the Nexus Collegiate at Albany Golf Club in Nassau, Bahamas, on Feb. 12-13, 2024.
From there, Houston returns home to play host to its own ICON Invitational on Feb. 26-27 at Golf Club of Houston in Humble, Texas.
SUPPORT HOUSTON RISE
Join Houston Rise, a $150 million fundraising campaign for Houston Athletics dedicated to championship success in the Big 12 Conference.
Every Houston Rise contribution prepares our Cougars to compete and win when we start Big 12 competition in July 2023. Click here to rise and be counted.
JOIN the P.A.R. 4 CLUB
Fans are invited to join the P.A.R. 4 Club to support Houston Women's Golf. P.A.R. 4 Club members provide financial support directly to Houston Women's Golf for needs beyond the program's operating budget.
Fans who join the P.A.R. 4 Club can begin receiving benefits for as little as $100 annually. For more information about the P.A.R. 4 Club, levels of giving and benefits, fans can click here.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarWGolf on Twitter and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at UHCougarWGolf or on the team's Instagram page at UHCougarWGolf.
After posting a score of 14-under 274 in the First Round, #26 Houston followed with a team total of 287 in the afternoon session to join host #39 SMU and host Texas State at 15-under 561. #43 UNLV (563), Texas Tech (563), New Mexico (567), Oklahoma (568), Cal Poly (570), #29 Oklahoma State (573) and #50 UTSA (577) completed the Top 10.
Freshman Maelynn Kim overcame slow starts in each round to stand in a tie for 12th at 5-under 139 to lead the Cougars.
Starting off No. 9, the Katy, Texas, native made birdie on her first hole but endured three straight bogeys at Nos. 11-13. Fortunately, Kim rebounded with a birdie on No. 16 and drained and eagle-3 at the 473-yard 17th hole before making another birdie at No. 18.
Following back-to-back pars at Nos. 1-2, Kim made birdie on every other hole starting at No. 3 to finish with a 69.
Kim posted the Cougars' low round in the afternoon session as well with a 70. Starting with a birdie at No. 9, she fought through three bogeys in a four-hole stretch at Nos. 10-13 with two birdies and her second eagle of the day at No. 18 in a three-hole stretch.
The Seven Lakes High School product added consecutive birdies on Nos. 4-5.
This was Kim's first action since tying for 17th at the Schooner Fall Classic in late September. The Katy, Texas, native made her LGPA debut as an amateur at The Ascendant LPGA benefiting Volunteers of America at Old American Golf Club in The Colony, Texas on Oct. 5-8, tying for 88th.
She earned an exemption into that event after winning The Ascendant LPGA benefiting Volunteers of America Girls Championship during the summer.
Senior Nicole Abelar was in 14th at 4-under 140 for Houston. Starting her First Round off No. 10, the Manila native sank three birdies in a four hole stretch at Nos. 14-17 and then made three straight birdies on Nos. 1-3 to finish with a 67.
Sophomore Moa Svedenskiold was tied for 20th at 2-under 142. The Halmstad, Sweden, native led the Cougars with a 67 in the First Round for her 10th straight round of par or lower to open the season.
Sophomore Alexa Saldana and junior Hyeonji Kan were tied for 25th at 143 while freshman Ellen Yates – playing as an individual – was tied for 48th at 148.
Oklahoma's Savannah Butler held the first-day lead at 134. McKenzi Hall (UNLV), Matilda Svahn (Texas State), Lauren Lehigh (New Mexico) and Marine Griffaut (Texas State) were tied for second at 135 with Hailey Jones (Texas State) in sixth at 136.
The Final Round begins with an 8:30 a.m., shotgun start Monday.
LIVE SCORING
Fans can follow live scoring at the Jim West Challenge on GolfStat by clicking here.
PAIRINGS
For Monday's Final Round, Houston will compete in groups with student-athletes from host Texas State and #39 SMU.
Abelar begins in the first group off No. 1 with Kim (second group off No. 1), Svedenskiold (No. 2), Kang (first group off No. 3) and Saldana (second group off No. 3) following. Yates will start her Final Round in the first group off No. 16.
Fans can find complete pairings on GolfStat by clicking here.
UP NEXT
Following the Jim West Challenge, the Cougars will take their holiday break. Houston returns to action to open its spring season at the Nexus Collegiate at Albany Golf Club in Nassau, Bahamas, on Feb. 12-13, 2024.
From there, Houston returns home to play host to its own ICON Invitational on Feb. 26-27 at Golf Club of Houston in Humble, Texas.
SUPPORT HOUSTON RISE
Join Houston Rise, a $150 million fundraising campaign for Houston Athletics dedicated to championship success in the Big 12 Conference.
Every Houston Rise contribution prepares our Cougars to compete and win when we start Big 12 competition in July 2023. Click here to rise and be counted.
JOIN the P.A.R. 4 CLUB
Fans are invited to join the P.A.R. 4 Club to support Houston Women's Golf. P.A.R. 4 Club members provide financial support directly to Houston Women's Golf for needs beyond the program's operating budget.
Fans who join the P.A.R. 4 Club can begin receiving benefits for as little as $100 annually. For more information about the P.A.R. 4 Club, levels of giving and benefits, fans can click here.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarWGolf on Twitter and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at UHCougarWGolf or on the team's Instagram page at UHCougarWGolf.
– UHCougars.com –
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
HIGHLIGHTS – NCAA Columbus Regional Final Round (May 7, 2025)
Friday, May 09
HIGHLIGHTS – NCAA Columbus Regional Second Round (May 6, 2025)
Wednesday, May 07
HIGHLIGHTS – NCAA Columbus Regional First Round (May 5, 2025)
Monday, May 05
HIGHLIGHTS – NCAA Columbus Regional Practice Round (May 4, 2025)
Sunday, May 04