KERRVILLE, Texas -- The Trinity University women led wire-to-wire and captured its third consecutive SCAC title with an impressive 18-shot victory Tuesday afternoon at Riverhill Country Club in Kerrville, Texas. Official Championship Website | Women's Results - Team | Women's Results - Individual | Photo Gallery | Post Tournament Interview with Trinity
After taking an eight-stroke lead following Monday's opening round of 314, the 20th-ranked Tigers were 10 shots clear of the field on Tuesday to finish at 313. Trinity's two-day total of 627 ties its own SCAC record that was established at the 2022 championships. The Tigers finished with a team-high 17 birdies over the 36 holes and posted 96 pars en route to their third consecutive title. Trinity is the first program since Southwestern in 2007-09 to win three-straight SCAC titles.
For the Tigers, this marks the seventh SCAC title in program history (1995, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2021, 2022), tied with DePauw for the second most SCAC history. Only Southwestern (8) has more women's golf titles. The 18-shot victory is the third largest in Trinity history behind the victory in 1995 (37) and 2022 (24).
Trinity sophomore Alejandra Sanchez De la Fuente Molino, who placed fifth at last year's SCAC Championship as a rookie, fired rounds of 75 (+3) and 78 (+6) to finish at 153 (+9) for the event to earn medalist honors. Her two-day score of 153 is tied for the fifth best 36-hole performance in SCAC history. Molino led the field in par 4 scoring (+5), finished first with 24 pars and was tied for sixth with three birdies. Trinity has now claimed medalist honors at back-to-back SCAC Championships for the first time in program history.
In addition, Trinity became the first team since former member DePauw University back in 2004 to place four players in the top four of the scoring. Joining Molino on the All-SCAC First Team was Kiona Hsiu (78-77 – 155), Lucy Hansen (80-79 – 159) and Erin Flynn (81-79 – 160) finishing second, third and tied for fourth respectively. Hsiu's second round of 77 marked the lowest final round of the day. Both Hsiu and Flynn tied for first with four birdies made in the tournament apiece.
Southwestern University finished in second place with a team score of 645 (322-323). The Pirates were led by Ryleigh Erickson and Isabel Montelongo (77-83) who finished tied for fourth with a two-round total of 160. Erickson finished the tournament with the best par 5 scoring average (4.88) and posted rounds of 78 and 82 to earn First Team All-SCAC honors. Linsey Garza (83-78 – 161) and Madison Miller (84-81 – 165) finished tied for seventh and 10th to earn Second Team All-SCAC accolades.
The University of St. Thomas finished third following rounds of 331 and 341 for a two-day total of 672. A duo of Celts, led by Emma Luna's (81-80 – 161) tie for seventh place, earned All-SCAC Second Team honors. Trinity Le (79-89 – 168) finished tied for 11th. Luna's 22 pars over the two rounds were second best among the field.
Dallas earned a pair of All-SCAC honors for the first time in program history led by Kimberly Burch who carded rounds of 76 and 86 to finish tied for seventh with 161 total strokes. Burch led the field in par 3 scoring (2.63) finishing the tournament 3-under par on those holes. Joining Burch on the All-SCAC podium was Clair Kirby after finishing tied for 11th (86-82 – 168).
Emmie Rhude (83-85 – 168) of Schriner became the first Mountaineer since 2021 to earn All-SCAC honors landing on the Second Team with a tie for 11th finish.
Rounding out the team strandings, the University of Dallas finished fourth with a team score of 686, Schreiner University took home fifth (714) and Texas Lutheran University placed sixth after a two-day total of 743.
For the first time since 2013, the SCAC will send its conference champion to the NCAA tournament via an automatic berth, with Trinity earning that distinction and trip to Mission Inn Resort and Club in Howey-in-the-Hills, FL for this year's championship, May 9-12. Other conference teams and individuals will await word of at-large selections when the NCAA makes that announcement in May.
2023 All-SCAC Women's Golf First Team
1. Alejandra Sanchez De la Fuente Molino, Trinity - 75-78 -- 153
2. Kiona Hsiu, Trinity - 78-77 -- 155
3. Lucy Hansen, Trinity - 80-79 -- 159
T4. Erin Flynn, Trinity - 81-79 -- 160
T4. Ryleigh Erickson, Southwestern - 78-82 --160
T4. Isabel Montelongo, Southwestern - 77-83 -- 160
2023 All-SCAC Women's Golf Second Team
T7. Linsey Garza, Southwestern - 83-78 -- 161
T7. Emma Luna, St. Thomas - 81-80 -- 161
T7. Kimberly Burch, Dallas - 75-86 -- 161
10. Madison Miller, Southwestern - 84-81 -- 165
T11. Clair Kirby, Dallas - 86-82 -- 168
T11. Emmie Rhude, Schreiner - 83-85 -- 168
T11. Trinity Le, St. Thomas - 79-89 -- 168
2023 SCAC Women's Golf Tournament Medalist
Kiona Hsiu, Trinity University
