PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL: Final round action at the NAIA Women's Golf National Championship was halted by rain on Friday. The Texas Wesleyan University Lady Rams were making a charge through 12 holes on the day and had nearly gotten back into the top-10 when the downpours put an end to the competition. With only three rounds counting, the Rams placed 15th in the field of 30 teams.
The Lady Rams, in just their sixth year of existence, were making the program's fourth consecutive National Championship appearance. The team made its fourth consecutive cut at the Championship as well on their way to the 15th place finish, which snapped a streak of 26 consecutive top-10 finishes.
This was the third year in a row that the competition in Florida was shortened by rain. Last year's competition completed three rounds and the Rams finished 10th. In 2016, the Rams had their best finish, fourth, while play was limited to only two rounds.
On Friday, Texas Wesleyan senior Alex Schies and junior Elena Sinde Romero were putting together strong rounds. Schies was just 2-over through 12 holes while Sinde Romero was at +5. Meanwhile the team had climbed to 12th and sat just five shots behind a 27th straight top-10 finish when play was stopped.
With those final round scores washed away, the Rams settled for a 15th place finish. Schies and freshman Emily Hunt tied for 43rd at +23.
The National Championship title was not in doubt on Friday. SCAD Savannah had separated itself from the field in the first three rounds. The Bees won their first national title by 19 strokes at +45 (909) for the tournament. William Woods (928), Keiser (936), Dalton State (940) and Taylor (941) rounded out the top-five.
Individually, SCAD's Maria Paula Otero took the medalist position in round two and then sealed the title when she tied the Championship's single round record with a third round card of 68 on the par 72 (5,847 yard) Champions Course at PGA National. Otero finished at even par, winning by 10-strokes over her teammate Paulina Comacho and setting a new three-round scoring record at the Championship with a score of 216.
For the Rams, Jaci Trotter (246) tied for 60th and Elena Sinde Romero (248) tied for 65th.
The Lady Rams had a tremendous season with four wins including the Sooner Athletic Conference Championship. They also notched three runner-up finishes while extending their streak to 26 consecutive top-10 finishes.
Ramblings
- In their sixth year of existence, the Lady Rams were making the program's fourth appearance in the NAIA National Championship. In their three previous appearances, they did not finish outside of the top-10 with finishes of 4th (2016), 9th (2015) and 10th (2017).
- Jaci Trotter and Jacey Patton were were named NAIA Scholar-Athletes this week. In order to be nominated for the award, a student-athlete must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale and must have achieved a junior academic status. The Lady Rams have had at least one Scholar-Athlete in every season in which they have had a junior or senior athlete on the roster. Overall the program now boasts eight Scholar-Athletes, while Patton became the third Lady Ram to receive the award twice.
- Texas Wesleyan's best individual finish at the Championship was Jacey Patton who finished 11th in 2016.
- Alex Schies is the only Lady Ram to appear in the National Championship in all four seasons. In her previous appearances she finished 16th (2017), 47th (2016) and 26th (2015).
- Texas Wesleyan's streak of 26 consecutive top-10 finishes dated back to 12th place finish at Sam Houston Sate's Bearkat Invitational in October of 2015.
Texas Wesleyan Scores
Fin. Players Scores
T43 Alex Schies 77 77 86 240
T43 Emily Hunt 79 83 78 240
T60 Jaci Trotter 79 83 84 246
T65 Elena Sinde Romero 80 82 86 248
92 Trudy Allen 83 81 -- 164
15 Texas Wesleyan 315 323 334 972
