BLANCO, Texas -- The Trinity University women led wire-to-wire and earned the program its second consecutive SCAC title with a convincing 24-shot victory Tuesday afternoon at Vaaler Creek Golf Club in Blanco, Texas. Official Championship Website | Results | Day Two Photo Gallery
After taking a five-stroke lead following Monday’s opening round of 323, the 14th-ranked Tigers were 19 shots clear of the field on Tuesday to finish at 304, a new SCAC record for the lowest single team round in league history. Trinity’s two-day total of 627 established a new SCAC record, besting the 634 Southwestern shot at the 2019 championships. Trinity finished with a team-high 16 birdies over the 36 holes and posted 95 pars en route to its historic performance.
For the Tigers, this marks the sixth SCAC title in program history (1995, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2021), the third most in SCAC history. Only Southwestern (8) and former member DePauw (7) have more women’s golf titles. The 24-shot victory is the second largest in Trinity history behind the program’s first-ever title back in 1995 when they cruised past Sewanee by 37 strokes.
Trinity sophomore Kiona Hsiu, who placed third at last year’s SCAC Championship as a rookie, fired rounds of 75 (+3) and 73 (+1) to finish at 148 (+4) for the event to earn medalist honors. Hsiu led the field in par 5 scoring (-4) for the second consecutive year, finished tied for first with seven birdies and was second with 20 pars. Her 148 also set a new SCAC record for the lowest 36-hole score in conference history. Emily Burch of Rhodes previously held the distinction after firing a 150 at the 2001 championships. Hsiu is the first Trinity Tiger to earn individual medalist honors since Bridgette Lee back in 2013.
In addition to Hsiu, Erin Flynn (89-72—161) and Alejandra Sanchez De la Fuente Molino (83-79—162) finished tied for third and fifth respectively, to give the Tigers three of the five members that earned All-SCAC First Team slots. Flynn’s second round of 72 marked the lowest final round in SCAC women’s golf history.
Southwestern University finished in second place with a team score of 651 (328-323). The Pirates were led by Isabel Montelongo who finished tied for third with a two-round total of 161. Montelongo finished the tournament with the second-best par 4 scoring average (4.40) and posted rounds of 81 and 80 to earn First Team All-SCAC honors. Ryleigh Erickson (84-80—164) and Linsey Garza (80-88—168) finished tied for seventh and tied for 15th to earned Second Team and Honorable Mention All-SCAC accolades.
The University of St. Thomas finished third following rounds of 328 and 325 for a two-day total of 653, just two shots behind Southwestern. A quartet of Celts, led by Myra Truong’s (82-81—163) sixth place finish, earned All-SCAC Second Team honors. Trinity Le (77-87—164) finished tied for seventh, while both Emma Luna (85-80—165) and Alyssa Goins (84-81—165) finished tied for ninth.
Dallas’ Kimberly Burch, who finished the championships with seven birdies and one eagle, earned the program’s first-ever All-SCAC honor after posting a 36-hole score of 152 with a pair of 76s to finish runner-up for medalist honors.
Rounding out the team standings, the University of Dallas finished fourth with a team score of 701, Schreiner University took home fifth (730) and Centenary College placed sixth after a two-day total of 795.
Since the SCAC doesn't have an automatic bid, conference teams and individuals will await word of at-large selections when the NCAA makes that announcement on Monday, May 2nd.
2022 All-SCAC Women's Golf First Team
1. Kiona Hsiu, Trinity - 75-73 -- 148
2. Kimberly Burch, Dallas - 76-76 -- 152
T3. Erin Flynn, Trinity - 89-72 -- 161
T3. Isabel Montelongo, Southwestern - 81-80 -- 161
5. Alejandra Sanchez De la Fuente Molino, Trinity - 83-79 -- 162
2022 All-SCAC Women's Golf Second Team
6. Myra Truong, St. Thomas - 82-81 -- 163
T7. Ryleigh Erickson, Southwestern - 84-80 -- 164
T7. Trinity Le, St. Thomas - 77-87 -- 164
T9. Emma Luna, St. Thomas - 85-80 -- 165
T9. Alyssa Goins, St. Thomas - 84-81 -- 165
2022 All-SCAC Women's Golf Honorable Mention
T15. Linsey Garza, Southwestern - 80-88 -- 168
2022 SCAC Women's Golf Tournament Medalist
Kiona Hsiu, Trinity University
