PREVIEW: Women’s Golf Returns to Action this Weekend

SAN MARCOS, Texas – The University of Houston Women's Golf program returns to action this weekend after a nearly month-long break when it competes at the Jim West Challenge at Kissing Tree Golf Club starting Sunday morning.

Schools will play 36 holes Sunday with the Final Round beginning Monday with 8:30 a.m., shotgun starts each day.

The team's break in their schedule came as three Cougars were selected to represent their home nations at the World Amateur Team Championships. Seniors Moa Svedenskiold (Sweden), Natalie Saint German (Czechia) and Alexa Saldana (Mexico) each competed at Tanah Merah Country Club in Singapore on Oct. 1-5.

Svedenskiold helped lead Team Sweden to a sixth-place team finish (team score of 14-under 562) and tied for 18^th in the individual standings with a score of 3-under 285, thanks to scores of 69-68 in the middle two rounds.

This marks the fifth straight season in which Houston will tee off at the Jim West Challenge. The Cougars finished second as a team a year ago as Svedenskiold tied for 10^th at 6-under 210, thanks to three straight rounds of par or lower.

The Halmstad, Sweden, native is no stranger to the Jim West Challenge, earning three straight Top-20 finishes, and captured the individual title as a freshman at the 2022 event with a score of 8-under 208 after posting consecutive 68s in the final two rounds for the first title of her career.

HOW to WATCH
Fans can watch from both days at the Jim West Challenge on ESPN+ with Brant Freeman and Mary Chauvin calling the action.

Sunday's play can be seen from 1:30 to 5 p.m., by clicking here. Fans can see Monday's Final-Round action from 8 a.m., to Noon, by clicking here.

LIVE SCORING
Fans can follow live scoring at the Jim West Challenge by clicking here.

MEET the COUGARS
Under the leadership of Carolyn Macow Leatherwood Head Coach Lydia Lasprilla, the Cougars will be represented by Svedenskiold, Saint Germain, Saldana, junior Ellen Yates and junior Maelynn Kim. Sophomore Emilia Vaisto will compete as an individual.

In its season-opening tournament, Houston tied for eighth with a score of 845 at the Schooner Fall Classic at Belmar Golf Club in Norman, Okla., on Sept. 20-21.

Saint Germain opened that event with scores of 67-69 and tied for 17^th at 1-under 208 to lead the Cougars. Saldana and Yates each tied for 21^st with scores of 210.

Kim will make her season debut at the Jim West Challenge.

TEAM FIELD
Houston will compete in a 14-team field featuring North Texas, Florida State, Texas Tech, Ohio State, Northern Illinois, UTSA, Oklahoma, TCU, Texas A&M, Notre Dame, New Mexico, UNLV and host Texas State.

TEE TIMES
For Sunday's play, the Cougars will compete in groups with student-athletes from Texas State and Ohio State.

Svedenskiold begins the day off No. 1 at 8:30 a.m., with Saldana (first group off No. 2), Saint Germain (second group off No. 2), Yates (No. 3) and Kim (second group off No. 4) following. Vaisto begins her day off No. 18.

Fans can find Jim West Challenge complete tee times and pairings by clicking here.

UP NEXT
Following the Jim West Challenge, the Cougars close their fall season at the Landfall Tradition at Country Club of Landfall in Wilmington, N.C., on Oct. 24-26.

After the winter break, Houston returns to action to begin its spring season at the Collegiate Individual at Guadalajara Country Club in Guadalajara, Mexico, on Jan. 30-31.

SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Women's Golf by providing NIL opportunities 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 X 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 –

Upcoming Events

Recent Results