UHV Athletics

Women's Golf 5/1/2024 4:14:00 PM Brandon Stinson | Sports Information & Media Coordinator

Rocky Women’s Golf Earns Third Straight Conference Title Behind Zuleta and Metcalf’s Dominant Week

Rocky women earn NAIA National Championship Berth After Commanding Victory; Men Finish Fourth

VICTORIA, Texas— Rocky women's golf secured its third consecutive conference title, led by Valentina Zuleta's third individual conference title, as the Battlin' Bears punched their ticket to the NAIA Women's Golf National Championship.

Women's Day 3 Recap

Despite holding a 21-stroke lead entering the final day, the Rocky women did not take their foot off the gas. They shot their best round as a team of the week to secure their third consecutive conference title and their first Red River Athletic Conference Championship.

Valentina Zuleta led the way with a start-to-finish display of dominance. Zuleta finished 71-72-75 (218) to win the tournament by 11 strokes. The junior finished twenty strokes ahead of any other non-Battlin' Bear individual in the field, highlighted by 11 birdies and 31 pars across all three rounds. Her finish marks the third consecutive Individual Conference Championship in as many years as a Battlin' Bear.

Grace Metcalf emerged from the pack in the final two rounds to finish second overall, shooting 81-76-72. Metcalf led all golfers with 34 pars and had the best performance on par 3s, combining for one-under-par on her par 3s during the week and combined to shoot nine strokes higher than the next finisher.

Kadence Fischer and Isabella Downing tied for 11th overall in Texas. Fischer finished 85-85-79 (249), and Downing shot 82-87-80 (249). Fischer jumped five spots overall on the final day, while Downing jumped two, as both golfers shot their best tournament rounds on Wednesday.

Tyla Potgieter rounded out the Rocky competitors at 15th overall, finishing 87-87-80 (254). The sophomore's best round of the tournament helped her jump into the top 15 individually.

The Battlin' Bears finished 319-320-306 (945) to earn an automatic qualifying berth to the NAIA Women's Golf National Championship beginning May 14th in Silvis, Illinois. The championship tournament will be played at TPC Deere Run for the second consecutive year. The Rocky women had a standout performance a season ago, jumping to a 10th-place finish after being ranked outside of the top 25 entering the competition. Four of the five Battlin' Bears who competed last season in Illinois will return with their eyes on the NAIA National Championship.

Red River Athletic Conference Women's Golf Championship

Rocky Mountain College (+81, 945)
University of Houston-Victoria (+112, 976)
Our Lady of the Lake (+119, 983)
Montana Tech (+159, 1023)
Carroll College (+209, 1073)
University of Providence (+402, 1266)

Men's Day 3 Recap

Jared Smith rounded out a great week at Victoria Country Club, finishing 72-73-71 (216) to place third overall individually. The North Idaho College transfer limited his mistakes throughout the week and was steady from start to finish, leading the field with 42 pars.

Jake Johnson finished inside the top 10 overall, shooting 70-76-76 (222). Johnson tallied eight total birdies and had the second-best scoring average on par 3s among individuals, shooting even-par.

William Dexheimer jumped into the top 15 after Wednesday's action, finishing 76-75-76 (227) to tie for 13th overall. Dexheimer finished with 34 total pars and made four of his five birdies during Wednesday's round to climb two spots overall in the standings.

The freshman duo of Adam Hyde-Lay and Nolan Wilson tied for 30th overall to round out the Battlin' Bears. Hyde-Lay shot 80-75-85 (240), and Wilson finished 76-78-86.

The Rocky men fell to fourth on the final day of competition after holding a third-place position after the first two rounds, finishing 294-299-308 (901). The University of Houston-Victoria earned the team victory in Texas with a team score of 286-284-288 (858).

The Rocky men will now wait for the announcement of the at-large berths for the NAIA Men's Golf National Championships, which will take place in Dalton, Georgia, beginning May 21st.

Red River Athletic Conference Men's Golf Championship