Lions Make 12-Stroke Improvement in Final Round of Cheddar's UCO Classic

The Texas A&M University-Commerce women’s golf team improved five places from the opening round to finish ninth on Tuesday at the Cheddar’s UCO Golf Classic. The Lions made a 12-stroke improvement, which was the best among the 18-team field.

A&M-Commerce junior Kathleen May (pictured) lowered her score by 11 strokes with a career-best 73 to finish tied for 30th for a 36 hole total of 157 (84-73). May posted four birdies over the course of 36 holes, which ranked among the best in the field. 

May shared 30th place honors with teammate junior Megan Benites, who made a five-stroke improvement with a 76 in the final round for a 36 hole total of 157 (81-76). 

Senior Heather Pantalion also made improvement in the final round for a 36-hole total of 162 (82-80) to share 55th place honors and junior Mallory Kempf tied for 59th with a 163 (81-82). As an individual, senior Noelle Garcia lowered her score by five strokes with a two-day total of 177 (91-86). 

On the strength of an eight-stroke improvement, Tarleton State took home the team title. The TexAnns placed three golfers in the top in the process. Raelyn Smith of Angelo State, shot a five-under 65 in the final round for a 10-stroke win over her closest competitor, Emily Kvinta of St. Edward’s. 

The next tournament for the Lions is the Oklahoma Intercollegiate, which gets underway on Monday, Oct. 12 at The Territory Golf and Country Club in Duncan, Oklahoma.