University of Houston Athletics
Saldana Finishes U.S. Amateur Championship First Round
8/7/2023 10:07:00 PM | Women's Golf
Sophomore fires 1-over 71 to tie for 38th at Bel-Air Country Club in Los Angeles; Second Round on Tuesday
LOS ANGELES – University of Houston Women's Golf sophomore Alexa Saldana used a strong second nine to finish the First Round of the U.S Amateur Championship with a 71 and stand in a tie for 38th at Bel-Air Country on Monday.
Starting her day off No. 10 on the 6,187-yard, par-70 course, the Mexico City native endured three bogeys on her first nine.
However, Saldana quickly rallied with back-to-back birdies on Nos. 1-2 and drained birdies on two of her final three holes to cap her first round at the U.S. Amateur Championship
She earned her first trip to the U.S. Amateur Championship after shooting a 4-under 67 during a qualifier at Gus Wortham Park Golf Course in Houston on July 19.
Caroline Canales and Briana Chacon held the First-Round lead with 66s while Katie Cranston stood in third at 67. The Top-64 players following Tuesday's action advance to match play beginning Wednesday.
The 2023 U.S. Amateur Championship features 156 of the world's top amateur players on the 6,187-yard, par-70 course.
UP NEXT
The U.S. Amateur Championship continues with the Second Round on Tuesday.
Saldana will play with Sue Wooster (Australia) and Blakesly Brock (USA) in the Second Round. The group tees off No. 1 at 3:07 p.m. (CDT), Tuesday.
LIVE SCORING
Fans can follow live scoring at the U.S. Amateur Championship by clicking here.
ABOUT ALEXA SALDANA
Competing in her first collegiate season in 2022-23, Saldana competed in all 11 tournaments and opened the Schooner Fall Classic with a pair of 69s in the first two sub-par rounds in only her second collegiate tournament.
The Mexico City native earned her season-best 17th-place finish with a score of 4-under 212 after shooting three straight rounds of par or better at the MountainView Collegiate at MountainView Gold Club in Saddlebrooke, Ariz.
Following the season, she was named to the American Athletic Conference All-Academic Team and was a Women's Golf Coaches Association All-American Scholar with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher in 2022-23
COUGARS in U.S. AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
This marked the fourth straight season in which Houston was represented at the U.S. Amateur Championship.
In 2022, senior Nicole Abelar tied for 76th with a score of 152 at Chambers Bay in University Place, Wash.
Abelar joined other Cougar U.S. Amateur Championship qualifiers Delaney Martin (2021), Karen Fredgaard (2020), Emily Gilbreth and Maddy Rayner (2018), Megan Thothong and Ragan Bremer (2016), Thothong and then-Assistant Coach Lucy Nunn (2015) and Bremer (2014).
Bremer posted the Cougars' best finish at the U.S. Amateur Championship, advancing the match play before bowing out in the First Round in 2014.
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.
Starting her day off No. 10 on the 6,187-yard, par-70 course, the Mexico City native endured three bogeys on her first nine.
However, Saldana quickly rallied with back-to-back birdies on Nos. 1-2 and drained birdies on two of her final three holes to cap her first round at the U.S. Amateur Championship
She earned her first trip to the U.S. Amateur Championship after shooting a 4-under 67 during a qualifier at Gus Wortham Park Golf Course in Houston on July 19.
Caroline Canales and Briana Chacon held the First-Round lead with 66s while Katie Cranston stood in third at 67. The Top-64 players following Tuesday's action advance to match play beginning Wednesday.
The 2023 U.S. Amateur Championship features 156 of the world's top amateur players on the 6,187-yard, par-70 course.
UP NEXT
The U.S. Amateur Championship continues with the Second Round on Tuesday.
Saldana will play with Sue Wooster (Australia) and Blakesly Brock (USA) in the Second Round. The group tees off No. 1 at 3:07 p.m. (CDT), Tuesday.
LIVE SCORING
Fans can follow live scoring at the U.S. Amateur Championship by clicking here.
ABOUT ALEXA SALDANA
Competing in her first collegiate season in 2022-23, Saldana competed in all 11 tournaments and opened the Schooner Fall Classic with a pair of 69s in the first two sub-par rounds in only her second collegiate tournament.
The Mexico City native earned her season-best 17th-place finish with a score of 4-under 212 after shooting three straight rounds of par or better at the MountainView Collegiate at MountainView Gold Club in Saddlebrooke, Ariz.
Following the season, she was named to the American Athletic Conference All-Academic Team and was a Women's Golf Coaches Association All-American Scholar with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher in 2022-23
COUGARS in U.S. AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
This marked the fourth straight season in which Houston was represented at the U.S. Amateur Championship.
In 2022, senior Nicole Abelar tied for 76th with a score of 152 at Chambers Bay in University Place, Wash.
Abelar joined other Cougar U.S. Amateur Championship qualifiers Delaney Martin (2021), Karen Fredgaard (2020), Emily Gilbreth and Maddy Rayner (2018), Megan Thothong and Ragan Bremer (2016), Thothong and then-Assistant Coach Lucy Nunn (2015) and Bremer (2014).
Bremer posted the Cougars' best finish at the U.S. Amateur Championship, advancing the match play before bowing out in the First Round in 2014.
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
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/ Women's Golf
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