Women’s golf continues strong run of form while men’s remains in the middle of the pack

Camryn+Carreon+watches+her+drive+during+the+team%E2%80%99s+season-opening+tournament+at+the+Paradise+Invitational.+Carreon+has+an+average+finish+of+just+over+eleventh+place+so+far+this+season+after+three+tournaments.+Randy+Sartin%2FUTSA+Athletics

Camryn Carreon watches her drive during the team’s season-opening tournament at the Paradise Invitational. Carreon has an average finish of just over eleventh place so far this season after three tournaments. Randy Sartin/UTSA Athletics

Ryder Martin, Sports Editor

Both UTSA golf teams were in action over the last two weeks, with the women competing at the Trinity Forest Invitational from March 7-8, and the men competing at the Louisiana Classics from March 14-15. The women continued their strong run of recent form, posting their second consecutive top five finish as a team while the men once again finished near the middle of the field. 

Starting with the women, it was another solid tournament for the Roadrunners. The team got off to an excellent start in round one, carding a 310 as a team, finishing the day in third place and sitting just five strokes behind round one leader South Florida. UTSA had two ‘Runners in the top 10 after the first round, Camryn Carreon and Nicole Polvichak were tied for ninth place at four-over-par, although Polvichak was competing as an individual and was not contributing to the team competition. 

Round two was less of a good time for the Roadrunners, however. Despite bettering their round one score and posting a 306 as a team, this was well off the pace of the teams around them and they fell six spots down the leaderboard into ninth place. Individually, Polvichak held strong in ninth place, but every other Roadrunner saw their position on the leaderboard worsen. For as bad as round two went for the ‘Runners, they came roaring back in round three. The team turned in the best third round of any team, a 287, to shoot back up the leaderboard and finish in fourth place with a final score of 903, one stroke ahead of South Florida. The ‘Runners closed things out on a strong note individually, placing five ‘Runners in the top 25. Polvichak led the way in a tie for 11th at eight-over-par, Carreon followed a stroke behind in a tie for 13th, the pair of Hannah Holzmann and Ana Gonzalez finished at 11-over-par in a tie for 18th and Hunter Nugent used a strong final round 69 to finish tied for 24th at 12-over-par. Morgan Ellison brought up the rear for UTSA at 17-over-par in a tie for 43rd. The team finished 17 strokes behind tournament winner No. 23 Texas Tech. 

Meanwhile, the men were on the road at the Louisiana Classics and in a strong 17-team field, found themselves well adrift of the top of the leaderboard. An opening round 293 put the ‘Runners in a deep hole early, sitting in a tie for 14th, 21 shots behind round one leaders Texas A&M. Christian Fanfelle was the highest placed Roadrunner after round one, occupying a tie for 14th at two-under-par, one stroke ahead of his teammate Hunter Bott, who sat in a tie for 21st. Round two proved to be a much stronger round for the ’Runners, however. The team carded a 285 to climb the leaderboard into a tie for eighth place, albeit still well off the pace of Texas A&M. Fanfelle slipped slightly down the leaderboard into a tie for 18th despite recording a one-under-par round. That forward momentum petered out in the third and final round though. The ‘Runners carded a 294 to bring their final total for the tournament to 872, which saw them fall into sole possession of 10th place, just managing to edge Illinois State and Rice by a stroke. Fanfelle and Bott ended the tournament tied for 17th with both finishing at three-under-par. The rest of the ‘Runners are likely to want to forget this tournament, however. Jack Wehman was the next highest finishing Roadrunner in a tie for 69th at eight-over-par, Michael Rome followed a stroke behind in a tie for 73rd, Reed Foster finished tied for 80th at 14-over-par competing as an individual and David Harrison brought up the rear in a tie for 84th at 15-over-par. 

The women’s team will return to action from March 27-28, at the Chattanooga Classic in Chattanooga, Tenn. The men’s team is currently competing at the All-American Intercollegiate in Humble, Texas.