Sadie Adams Captures English Stroke Play Championship Title
6/19/2025 3:38:00 PM | Women's Golf
Incoming freshman shoots third 70 over four rounds to win by one; Senior Alexa Saldana tied for fourth
LEEDS, England – Shooting a 3-under 70 for the third time over four rounds, University of Houston incoming freshman Sadie Adams finished with a score of 6-under 286 to capture the title at the English Stroke Play Championship at Alwoodley Golf Club on Thursday afternoon.
Future teammate and senior Alexa Saldana joined Adams among the Top-Five leaders, posting a score of 1-under 291 to tie for fourth with Lily Hirst.
Only five golfers finished the tournament under par on the 6,036-yard, par-73 course, with two of them being Cougars.
Adams held the lead after 36 holes entering the final day after shooting 70-70 over the first two days, thanks to seven birdies in her Second Round on Wednesday.
Playing 36 holes Thursday, the Burnley, England, native battled through a 76 in the morning session to post a 70 in the afternoon and win by one stroke over Davina Xanh.
The afternoon play did not begin well for Adams who stood at +3 through the first five holes. Fortunately, her bogey on No. 5 would be the last blemish on her scorecard for the rest of the day.
She drained her second birdie of the day on the par-5 eighth and used a strong finish to win the title. Following four straight pars, Adams added another birdie at No. 13 and then closed the tournament with four straight birdies.
Saldana was tied for fifth at -3 entering Thursday's play. The Mexico City native opened the tournament with a 72 and bettered that by one shot in her Second Round after draining four birdies in a five-hole stretch midway through her second nine.
Adams isn't the only Cougar to win this summer. Earlier this month, junior Maelynn Kim earned medalist honors at the 109th Southern Amateur Championships with a 2 up win over Alise Knudson at Squire Creek Country Club in Choudrant, La.
ABOUT SADIE ADAMS
Adams enjoyed tremendous success in the year 2024.
She captured individual titles at the Flogas Irish Girls Amateur Open Championship and the Fairhaven Trophies Championship and was a member of teams which won the European Girls Team and Home Girls International crowns.
Adams earned a Top-Five finish at the English Girls Open Championship and finished among the Top-10 leaders at the Scottish Girls Open Championship. She also ranked among the Top-20 leaders at the German Girls Open Championship.
In September, she was named to England's National Team. She also represented her home country at the World Junior Girls Championship.
ABOUT ALEXA SALDANA
Saldana was a steady presence in the Cougars' lineup throughout the 2024-25 season.
Competing in 32 rounds over 11 tournaments, she finished third on the team with a 73.06 scoring average and added 14 rounds of par or lower.
Saldana earned five Top-20 finishes with a career-best third-place showing at the Riverbend Intercollegiate at Riverbend Country Club in Sugar Land, Texas, to help lead the Cougars to their third team tournament championship of the year, tying a school single-season record.
During the fall season, she tied for seventh at the Illini Invitational at Medinah with a score of 8-under 208, tying her 54-hole career-best total.
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 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.
Future teammate and senior Alexa Saldana joined Adams among the Top-Five leaders, posting a score of 1-under 291 to tie for fourth with Lily Hirst.
Only five golfers finished the tournament under par on the 6,036-yard, par-73 course, with two of them being Cougars.
Adams held the lead after 36 holes entering the final day after shooting 70-70 over the first two days, thanks to seven birdies in her Second Round on Wednesday.
Playing 36 holes Thursday, the Burnley, England, native battled through a 76 in the morning session to post a 70 in the afternoon and win by one stroke over Davina Xanh.The afternoon play did not begin well for Adams who stood at +3 through the first five holes. Fortunately, her bogey on No. 5 would be the last blemish on her scorecard for the rest of the day.
She drained her second birdie of the day on the par-5 eighth and used a strong finish to win the title. Following four straight pars, Adams added another birdie at No. 13 and then closed the tournament with four straight birdies.
Saldana was tied for fifth at -3 entering Thursday's play. The Mexico City native opened the tournament with a 72 and bettered that by one shot in her Second Round after draining four birdies in a five-hole stretch midway through her second nine.
Adams isn't the only Cougar to win this summer. Earlier this month, junior Maelynn Kim earned medalist honors at the 109th Southern Amateur Championships with a 2 up win over Alise Knudson at Squire Creek Country Club in Choudrant, La.
ABOUT SADIE ADAMS
Adams enjoyed tremendous success in the year 2024.
She captured individual titles at the Flogas Irish Girls Amateur Open Championship and the Fairhaven Trophies Championship and was a member of teams which won the European Girls Team and Home Girls International crowns.
Adams earned a Top-Five finish at the English Girls Open Championship and finished among the Top-10 leaders at the Scottish Girls Open Championship. She also ranked among the Top-20 leaders at the German Girls Open Championship.
In September, she was named to England's National Team. She also represented her home country at the World Junior Girls Championship.
ABOUT ALEXA SALDANA
Saldana was a steady presence in the Cougars' lineup throughout the 2024-25 season.
Competing in 32 rounds over 11 tournaments, she finished third on the team with a 73.06 scoring average and added 14 rounds of par or lower.
Saldana earned five Top-20 finishes with a career-best third-place showing at the Riverbend Intercollegiate at Riverbend Country Club in Sugar Land, Texas, to help lead the Cougars to their third team tournament championship of the year, tying a school single-season record.
During the fall season, she tied for seventh at the Illini Invitational at Medinah with a score of 8-under 208, tying her 54-hole career-best total.
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 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 –
Players Mentioned
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