University of Houston Athletics
Monday, February 26
Golf Club of Houston – Humble, Texas
University of Houston
vs
The Chevron Collegiate
Kang’s First-Round 64 Leads Women’s Golf at The Chevron Collegiate
2/26/2024 9:25:00 PM | Women's Golf
Junior ties school 18-hole record low, sets mark for lowest score to par
HUMBLE, Texas – University of Houston junior Hyeonji Kang fired a bogey-free 64 to tie a school record during the First Round of The Chevron Collegiate at Golf Club of Houston on Monday afternoon.
Kang joined senior Nicole Abelar in a tie for 15th at 6-under 138 through 36 holes.
Starting off No. 3, Kang quickly moved into red numbers with back-to-back birdies on Nos. 4-5 and then drained the team's first eagle of the day at the 522-yard, par-5 eighth hole.
The Jeju, South Korea, native added additional birdies at No. 10, No. 13 and No. 15 and closed her morning round with four straight pars to tie the school record, first set by current sophomore Natalie Saint Germain during the Final Round of the Schooner Fall Classic on Sept. 26, 2022, at Belmar Golf Club in Norman, Okla.
Kang's total of 8-under to par set a Houston record, topping the previous best of 7-under by All-American Leonie Harm during the Second Round of the Jim West Challenge on Oct. 28, 2018, and in the Final Round of the NCAA Austin Regional at University of Texas Golf Club on May 9, 2018.
As a team, the Cougars stood in 11th with a total of 569. Texas A&M and SMU were tied for the first-day lead at 23-under 553 with Maryland one stroke back. Texas Tech (561), Iowa State (564), Tennessee (565), Illinois (565), Texas State (567) and North Texas (567) rounded out the Top-Nine leaders.
Senior Nicole Abelar posted a pair of sub-par rounds Monday and joined Kang in a tie for 15th at 138. The Manila, Philippines, native recorded a 70 in the morning round and closed the day with a 68 in the afternoon, thanks to three birdies in her final seven holes.
Sophomore Alexa Saldana was tied for 42nd at even-par 144 while sophomore Moa Svedenskiold and freshman Maelynn Kim were tied for 65th at 149.
Playing as individuals, freshman Ellen Yates was tied for 60th at 148 while Saint Germain and junior Brooke Morales were tied for 69th at 150. Junior Anna Economon stood 89th at 175.
Maryland teammates Nicha Kanpai and Patricie Mackova and Texas A&M's Adela Cernousek were tied for the individual lead at 135. Isabel Sy (Illinois), Mackenzie Lee (SMU), Cayetana Fernandez Garcia-Poggio (Texas A&M) and Daniela Abonce (UTSA) were tied for fourth at 136.
The Final Round begins with an 8 a.m., shotgun start, Tuesday. Admission is free, and all fans are invited to attend.
ABOUT CHEVRON
Chevron recently joined as the tournament's title sponsor.
Chevron is a proud sponsor of The Chevron Championship, one of the LGPA's annual major championships played at The Club at Carlton Woods in The Woodlands, Texas.
As part of Chevron's commitment to the Cougars' home tournament, the individual champion of The Chevron Collegiate will be presented with a place in The Chevron Championship Pro-Am and an invitation to its pairings party.
Chevron Vice President of Renewables Nuray Elci will be a guest speaker at a team dinner for all squads, coaches and student-athletes following the first two rounds on Feb. 26.
LIVE SCORING
Fans can follow live scoring at The Chevron Collegiate on GolfStat by clicking here.
TEE TIMES
For Tuesday's Final Round, Houston will compete in groups with student-athletes from UNLV and UTSA, beginning at 8 a.m.
Kang begins the day for the Cougars in the first group off No. 10 with Abelar (second group off No. 10), Saldana (No. 11), Svedenskiold (first group off No. 12) and Kim (second group off No. 12) following.
Yates begins Tuesday's play in the first group off No. 17 with Saint Germain (second group off No. 17), Economon (first group off No. 18) and Morales (second group off No. 18) following.
Fans can find complete tee times on GolfStat by clicking here.
UP NEXT
Following The Chevron Collegiate, Houston tees off at The Show at Spanish Trail Country Club in Las Vegas on March 4-5.
From there, Houston continues its western road swing when it competes at the MountainView Collegiate, set for March 15-16 at MountainView Country Club in Tucson, Ariz.
SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Women's Golf by supporting Linking Coogs – UH's NIL collective – and by joining the P.A.R. 4 Club, which provides financial support directly to Houston Women's Golf for needs beyond its operating budget.
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.
Kang joined senior Nicole Abelar in a tie for 15th at 6-under 138 through 36 holes.
Starting off No. 3, Kang quickly moved into red numbers with back-to-back birdies on Nos. 4-5 and then drained the team's first eagle of the day at the 522-yard, par-5 eighth hole.
The Jeju, South Korea, native added additional birdies at No. 10, No. 13 and No. 15 and closed her morning round with four straight pars to tie the school record, first set by current sophomore Natalie Saint Germain during the Final Round of the Schooner Fall Classic on Sept. 26, 2022, at Belmar Golf Club in Norman, Okla.
Kang's total of 8-under to par set a Houston record, topping the previous best of 7-under by All-American Leonie Harm during the Second Round of the Jim West Challenge on Oct. 28, 2018, and in the Final Round of the NCAA Austin Regional at University of Texas Golf Club on May 9, 2018.
As a team, the Cougars stood in 11th with a total of 569. Texas A&M and SMU were tied for the first-day lead at 23-under 553 with Maryland one stroke back. Texas Tech (561), Iowa State (564), Tennessee (565), Illinois (565), Texas State (567) and North Texas (567) rounded out the Top-Nine leaders.
Senior Nicole Abelar posted a pair of sub-par rounds Monday and joined Kang in a tie for 15th at 138. The Manila, Philippines, native recorded a 70 in the morning round and closed the day with a 68 in the afternoon, thanks to three birdies in her final seven holes.
Sophomore Alexa Saldana was tied for 42nd at even-par 144 while sophomore Moa Svedenskiold and freshman Maelynn Kim were tied for 65th at 149.
Playing as individuals, freshman Ellen Yates was tied for 60th at 148 while Saint Germain and junior Brooke Morales were tied for 69th at 150. Junior Anna Economon stood 89th at 175.
Maryland teammates Nicha Kanpai and Patricie Mackova and Texas A&M's Adela Cernousek were tied for the individual lead at 135. Isabel Sy (Illinois), Mackenzie Lee (SMU), Cayetana Fernandez Garcia-Poggio (Texas A&M) and Daniela Abonce (UTSA) were tied for fourth at 136.
The Final Round begins with an 8 a.m., shotgun start, Tuesday. Admission is free, and all fans are invited to attend.
ABOUT CHEVRON
Chevron recently joined as the tournament's title sponsor.
Chevron is a proud sponsor of The Chevron Championship, one of the LGPA's annual major championships played at The Club at Carlton Woods in The Woodlands, Texas.
As part of Chevron's commitment to the Cougars' home tournament, the individual champion of The Chevron Collegiate will be presented with a place in The Chevron Championship Pro-Am and an invitation to its pairings party.
Chevron Vice President of Renewables Nuray Elci will be a guest speaker at a team dinner for all squads, coaches and student-athletes following the first two rounds on Feb. 26.
LIVE SCORING
Fans can follow live scoring at The Chevron Collegiate on GolfStat by clicking here.
TEE TIMES
For Tuesday's Final Round, Houston will compete in groups with student-athletes from UNLV and UTSA, beginning at 8 a.m.
Kang begins the day for the Cougars in the first group off No. 10 with Abelar (second group off No. 10), Saldana (No. 11), Svedenskiold (first group off No. 12) and Kim (second group off No. 12) following.
Yates begins Tuesday's play in the first group off No. 17 with Saint Germain (second group off No. 17), Economon (first group off No. 18) and Morales (second group off No. 18) following.
Fans can find complete tee times on GolfStat by clicking here.
UP NEXT
Following The Chevron Collegiate, Houston tees off at The Show at Spanish Trail Country Club in Las Vegas on March 4-5.
From there, Houston continues its western road swing when it competes at the MountainView Collegiate, set for March 15-16 at MountainView Country Club in Tucson, Ariz.
SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Women's Golf by supporting Linking Coogs – UH's NIL collective – and by joining the P.A.R. 4 Club, which provides financial support directly to Houston Women's Golf for needs beyond its operating budget.
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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