UTSA women’s golf team traveled to San Marcos, Texas to compete at Kissing Tree Golf Club for the Jim West Challenge hosted by Texas State. The challenge took place over the span of two days, with the first two rounds being on Sunday and the third round on Monday. The jam-packed weekend kicked off with a big party that featured karaoke and a coach’s challenge on the driving range.
The Roadrunners competed against 11 teams, three of which were ranked in the top 30 in the NCAA. The starting lineup for UTSA was Daniela Abonce, Maria Bastarrica, Sydney Bisgrove, Morgan Ellison and Olivia Williams.
Many of the locals in the Kissing Tree Club area volunteer for the event as ball spotters and set up coolers at tee boxes to ensure players have enough water. The par-72 course stretches across 1,500 acres of land, with its design centered around the hill country, equipped with elevated tee boxes and wide fairways.
“The course is very killer, so we pretty much talked about confidence,” coach Summer Batiste said about the advice she gave to her players following their practice round from the day before. “Committing to every shot gives ourselves opportunities because if we do that we will have chances to get some birdies in.”
It was a long day for the ‘Runners, facing a 36-hole course; the challenge ahead of them was both physically and mentally demanding.
“We kind of stressed that there were going to be opportunities, kind of wanting them to stay patient,” assistant coach Taryn Torgerson said. “I think on 36-hole days, it’s just all about being mentally locked in through the whole day.”
Junior Daniela Abonce led the UTSA groups as she teed off on a par-5 17th hole in a shotgun start. Following Abonce’s first shot, which she hit in the fairway, she ended up in some trouble after her third shot landed in a sand trap, right of the pin. Abonce chipped it up a bit higher than the pin, avoiding a slope. She two-putted, making her par the hole.
Parents were able to attend the challenge with senior Morgan Ellison’s parents following her throughout the course. Ellison’s father, Tod Ellison, explained the busy schedule that the players have, as well as a fun fact about her.
“On top of team traveling, Morgan also travels to Georgia for private lessons three times a year with coach Gale Peterson,” Tod said. Tod shared that his daughter’s lucky number is three, and it began with her birth: “Morgan’s birthday is 03/03/03.”
Ellison finished the first round with a low score of 72 on the team. She ended the round with one birdie on the front nine and two on the back nine; she made three bogeys the whole round and finished 23rd.
Sophomore Maria Bastarrica finished her first round with a 77. The second round, she improved by one stroke, earning her a score of 76. Bastarrica’s scorecard went back and forth. In the first round, she struggled on the front nine, having an out score of 39. Whereas in the second round, she had an out score of 37; she finished 52nd.
UTSA women’s golf finished strong placing 10th overall for the team. Daniela Abonce played a great third round, ending five under par and shared 16th place.
