BESSEMER, Ala. - Texas A&M-Kingsville's women's golf team finished its Spring 2023 season with a top-five finish at the PGA Works Collegiate Championship on Wednesday afternoon, finishing tied for fourth in a field of 11 total teams.
The Javelinas were able to hold on to their fourth-place finish after shooting 305 (+21) on the day ending at +82 for the tournament tying with Tennessee State. TAMUK saved its best for last as ever player scored in the seventies for the first time all championship.
It came down to the final hole of the championship as in her final round as a Javelina, senior Katelyn Habib recovered from her drive that found the bunker with a hybrid shot from the fairway trap that skipped across a creek to stay in play. The senior then hit a wedge on the subsequent shot to five feet of the hole where she sunk a putt to save par and secure the top-five finish.
"I'm really proud of how we played as a team today," said head coach Stefanie Maynard. "We played with calmness and poise, and played some of the best golf of the year and that's what you need in championships like this, so I really can't say how much it meant to me that we finished as strong as we did."
Freshman Victoria Patterson led the team with her best round of the tournament shooting a 75 (+4) on the day finishing the tournament tied for 14th place on the individual leaderboard at +15 for the tournament. The San Antonio native's final round saw her collect one birdie and thirteen pars at the par-71, Bent Brook Golf Course.
Classmate Cesilee Mokry improved for a third round in a row with a final round 76 (+5) with three birdies including a much needed one on the 360-yard, par-4 eighteenth hole. Mokry finished her freshman season tied for 22nd with teammate Alessia Rojas at 21-over par.
Rojas finished the tournament carding a 79 (+8), in a round that featured consecutive birdies on the par-5 eighth and par-4 ninth. She also finished tied for the fourth best scoring average on par-5's in the entire field, going 1-under on the longest holes for the tournament.
Kristin Grabow ended the tournament with her best round across the three days, shooting a 75 (+4) to close the season out. Grabow's round was highlighted by two birdies finishing the day in 29th at 27-over par.
Senior Katelyn Habib ended her stellar Javelina career with a 79 (+8), paring the last four holes of her collegiate career including her dramatic save on the eighteenth. The former walk-on finished tied for 35th at 29-over for the championship.
"Katie had gone from walk on to leader," said Maynard regarding her sole competing senior. "She has been a constant on this team with her positivity and her work ethic. She has pushed this program forward on and off the course. She is a coach's dream athlete, and she will be successful in anything she does. She will be missed."
To stay up to date on all things Javelina golf, follow @JavelinaGolf on Twitter for live in-round updates throughout the tournament and the year.
