University of Houston Athletics
Monday, October 23
Kissing Tree Golf Club – San Marcos, Texas
University of Houston
vs
Jim West Challenge
Women’s Golf Finishes Third at Jim West Challenge
10/23/2023 3:41:00 PM | Women's Golf
Freshman Maelynn Kim with 68 in Final Round, ties for ninth at 9-under 207
SAN MARCOS, Texas – University of Houston freshman Maelynn Kim fired a 68 in the Final Round at the Jim West Challenge to tie for ninth at 9-under 207 and lead the Cougars at Kissing Tree Golf Club on Monday afternoon.
#26 Houston posted its third straight round of par or better on the 6,132-yard, par-72 course and finished third with a 54-hole total of 28-under 836.
All six Cougars competing finished at par or lower. Kim and sophomore All-Conference performer Moa Svedenskiold enjoyed the Cougars' low rounds of the day at 68 while junior Hyeonji Kang fired a 69. Sophomore Alexa Saldana posted a 70, and senior Nicole Abelar finished with a 71 in the Final Round.
Playing as an individual, freshman Ellen Yates recorded an even-par 72.
Kim used a strong finish to earn the first Top-10 showing of her career. Standing at even-par in her round through 13 holes, the Katy, Texas, native sank birdies on four of her final five holes to tied for ninth at 9-under 207.
Svedenskiold enjoyed a bogey-free round Tuesday with back-to-back birdies to cap her tournament at 6-under 210 to tie for 16th. The Halmstad, Sweden, native shared medalist honors at the Jim West Challenge a year ago and has made par or better in 11 of her 12 rounds in the fall.
Abelar made birdies on two of her final three holes to finish the day under par and tied for 19th overall at 211.
Kang moved into red numbers for good with a birdie on the 419-yard, par-4 11th hole and close the tournament with an eagle-2 at No. 18 to tie for 21st at 212.
Saldana tied with Kim for team-high honors with five birdies in her Final Round and tied for 24th at 213. Yates finished 50th at 220.
#39 SMU won the team championship with a score of 826 while Texas Tech finished second at 835. Oklahoma (844), #29 Oklahoma State (846), host Texas State (847), #50 UTSA (850), TCU (850), #43 UNLV (851) and Cal Poly (860) rounded out the Top 10.
SMU's Ellie Szeryk earned medalist honors with a score of 16-under 200 to finish one shot ahead of Texas Tech's Shannon Tan. TCU's Lois Lau finished third at 202 while Mackenzie Lee (SMU) and Savannah Barber (Oklahoma) tied for fourth at 203.
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.
#26 Houston posted its third straight round of par or better on the 6,132-yard, par-72 course and finished third with a 54-hole total of 28-under 836.
All six Cougars competing finished at par or lower. Kim and sophomore All-Conference performer Moa Svedenskiold enjoyed the Cougars' low rounds of the day at 68 while junior Hyeonji Kang fired a 69. Sophomore Alexa Saldana posted a 70, and senior Nicole Abelar finished with a 71 in the Final Round.
Playing as an individual, freshman Ellen Yates recorded an even-par 72.
Kim used a strong finish to earn the first Top-10 showing of her career. Standing at even-par in her round through 13 holes, the Katy, Texas, native sank birdies on four of her final five holes to tied for ninth at 9-under 207.
Svedenskiold enjoyed a bogey-free round Tuesday with back-to-back birdies to cap her tournament at 6-under 210 to tie for 16th. The Halmstad, Sweden, native shared medalist honors at the Jim West Challenge a year ago and has made par or better in 11 of her 12 rounds in the fall.
Abelar made birdies on two of her final three holes to finish the day under par and tied for 19th overall at 211.
Kang moved into red numbers for good with a birdie on the 419-yard, par-4 11th hole and close the tournament with an eagle-2 at No. 18 to tie for 21st at 212.
Saldana tied with Kim for team-high honors with five birdies in her Final Round and tied for 24th at 213. Yates finished 50th at 220.
#39 SMU won the team championship with a score of 826 while Texas Tech finished second at 835. Oklahoma (844), #29 Oklahoma State (846), host Texas State (847), #50 UTSA (850), TCU (850), #43 UNLV (851) and Cal Poly (860) rounded out the Top 10.
SMU's Ellie Szeryk earned medalist honors with a score of 16-under 200 to finish one shot ahead of Texas Tech's Shannon Tan. TCU's Lois Lau finished third at 202 while Mackenzie Lee (SMU) and Savannah Barber (Oklahoma) tied for fourth at 203.
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 –
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