Sunday, October 22
Kissing Tree Golf Club – San Marcos, Texas
University of Houston
vs
Jim West Challenge
Women’s Golf Closes Fall at Jim West Challenge
10/20/2023 5:54:00 PM | Women's Golf
Live Scoring (GolfStat)Pairings (GolfStat)Kissing Tree Golf Club2023-24 ScheduleSupport Houston RiseJoin P.A.R. 4 Club
Two-day, 54-hole tournament tees of Sunday morning at Kissing Tree Golf Club
SAN MARCOS, Texas – The University of Houston Women's Golf program closes out its 2023 fall season when it tees off at the Jim West Challenge at Kissing Tree Golf Club beginning Sunday morning.
Schools will play 36 holes beginning with an 8:30 a.m., shotgun start Sunday with the final 18 holes beginning at 8:30 a.m., Monday on the 6,132-yard, par-72 course.
The Cougars, who stand at #26 in the latest Golfweek rankings, have started the 2023-24 season with three straight Top-Six team showings, including a sweep of the team and individual championships at the season-opening Sam Golden Invitational at Oakmont Country Club in Corinth, Texas, on Sept. 11-12.
LIVE SCORING
Fans can follow live scoring at the Jim West Challenge on GolfStat by clicking here.
MEET the COUGARS
Under the direction of Carolyn Macow Leatherwood Head Coach Lydia Gumm, the Cougars will be represented by sophomore Moa Svedenskiold, sophomore Alexa Saldana, junior Hyeonji Kang, freshman Maelynn Kim and senior Nicole Abelar. Freshman Ellen Yates will compete as an individual.
Svedenskiold has been the Cougars' leading performer during the fall, posting a 69.00 scoring average and shooting par or better in each of her first nine rounds to open the season. She became the first student-athlete in program history to accomplish the latter feat.
Saldana ranks second among the Cougars with a 70.33 scoring average and seven rounds of par or better. The Mexico City native has finished among the Top 20 leaders in each of the first three tournaments with a career-best 66 in the Final Round of the Sam Golden Invitational.
Kim returns to the Cougars' starting lineup after sitting out the Illini Invitational at Medinah on Oct. 9-10… but for a good reason.
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.
Kang is in her first season at Houston after transferring from Hawai'i during the summer and tied for 25th at the Illini Invitational at Medinah.
Abelar tied for second at the Sam Golden Invitational, thanks to 67s in the First and Final Rounds.
Yates made history in the first tournament of her collegiate career at the Sam Golden Invitational. The Horsell, England, native became the fastest freshman to win an individual title with a score of 14-under 202, thanks to a Final Round 66.
TEAM FIELD
Houston will compete in a 13-team field against Cal Poly, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, SMU, TCU, Texas Tech, Tulane, UNLV, UTSA, Washington State and host Texas State.
PAIRINGS
Fans can find complete pairings on GolfStat by clicking here.
LAST TIME OUT
In the Cougars' last tournament, Houston closed the Illini Invitational at Medinah with a team total of 6-under 282 and tied for sixth with a score of even-par 864 at Medinah Country Club in Medinah, Ill.
Svedenskiold closed the tournament with a 67 and tied for sixth at 5-under 211. Saldana joined her among the Top-20 leaders with a score of 215.
A YEAR AGO
In its last appearance at the Jim West Challenge, Houston posted a score of 3-under 864 and finished third with for its second straight Top-Four finish.
Svedenskiold led the way, closing the two-day tournament with back-to-back 68s and shared medalist honors at 8-under 208. She became the first freshman in program history to win an individual title and reached that milestone in only the third tournament of her collegiate career.
UP NEXT
Following the Jim West Challenge at Kissing Tree Golf Club in San Marcos, Texas, the Cougars open their spring season when they play 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.
Schools will play 36 holes beginning with an 8:30 a.m., shotgun start Sunday with the final 18 holes beginning at 8:30 a.m., Monday on the 6,132-yard, par-72 course.
The Cougars, who stand at #26 in the latest Golfweek rankings, have started the 2023-24 season with three straight Top-Six team showings, including a sweep of the team and individual championships at the season-opening Sam Golden Invitational at Oakmont Country Club in Corinth, Texas, on Sept. 11-12.LIVE SCORING
Fans can follow live scoring at the Jim West Challenge on GolfStat by clicking here.
MEET the COUGARS
Under the direction of Carolyn Macow Leatherwood Head Coach Lydia Gumm, the Cougars will be represented by sophomore Moa Svedenskiold, sophomore Alexa Saldana, junior Hyeonji Kang, freshman Maelynn Kim and senior Nicole Abelar. Freshman Ellen Yates will compete as an individual.
Svedenskiold has been the Cougars' leading performer during the fall, posting a 69.00 scoring average and shooting par or better in each of her first nine rounds to open the season. She became the first student-athlete in program history to accomplish the latter feat.
Saldana ranks second among the Cougars with a 70.33 scoring average and seven rounds of par or better. The Mexico City native has finished among the Top 20 leaders in each of the first three tournaments with a career-best 66 in the Final Round of the Sam Golden Invitational.
Kim returns to the Cougars' starting lineup after sitting out the Illini Invitational at Medinah on Oct. 9-10… but for a good reason.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.
Kang is in her first season at Houston after transferring from Hawai'i during the summer and tied for 25th at the Illini Invitational at Medinah.
Abelar tied for second at the Sam Golden Invitational, thanks to 67s in the First and Final Rounds.
Yates made history in the first tournament of her collegiate career at the Sam Golden Invitational. The Horsell, England, native became the fastest freshman to win an individual title with a score of 14-under 202, thanks to a Final Round 66.
TEAM FIELD
Houston will compete in a 13-team field against Cal Poly, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, SMU, TCU, Texas Tech, Tulane, UNLV, UTSA, Washington State and host Texas State.
PAIRINGS
Fans can find complete pairings on GolfStat by clicking here.
LAST TIME OUT
In the Cougars' last tournament, Houston closed the Illini Invitational at Medinah with a team total of 6-under 282 and tied for sixth with a score of even-par 864 at Medinah Country Club in Medinah, Ill.
Svedenskiold closed the tournament with a 67 and tied for sixth at 5-under 211. Saldana joined her among the Top-20 leaders with a score of 215.
A YEAR AGO
In its last appearance at the Jim West Challenge, Houston posted a score of 3-under 864 and finished third with for its second straight Top-Four finish.
Svedenskiold led the way, closing the two-day tournament with back-to-back 68s and shared medalist honors at 8-under 208. She became the first freshman in program history to win an individual title and reached that milestone in only the third tournament of her collegiate career.
UP NEXT
Following the Jim West Challenge at Kissing Tree Golf Club in San Marcos, Texas, the Cougars open their spring season when they play 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
/ 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