Final Results
MIRAMAR BEACH, Fla. - After back-to-back runner-up finishes the past two seasons, the Texas State Bobcats finally tasted victory at the 2016 Women's Golf Championships at the Raven Golf Club at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. The title was Texas State's as a member of the Sun Belt.
The Bobcats pulled away from the Troy Trojans in the second round and fired back-to-back rounds of 297 to close out the tournament with a three-day total of 895, 19 strokes ahead of second-place Troy. Maty Monzingo of Texas State was the individual medalist as she claimed the honor on the tournament's second playoff hole over Little Rock's Shania Berger.
Berger held the individual lead by two shots heading into the 17th hole when she double-bogeyed the par-5 17. Berger rebounded to make par on 18 but the two shot lead was diminished as she finished tied with Monzingo. The pair would play two sudden death playoff holes at No. 17 and No. 18. They both made par on the par-5 17 before moving onto the par-4 18. Berger was first to tee of and carried her shot over the water to the right side of the fairway. Monzingo hit a nearly identical shot as Berger's, leavign the pair with just chip shots from the green.
Monzingo's chip landed about seven feet from the hole while Berger's carried further. Monzingo was able to make birdie on the hole and claim the title as Berger's birdie putt attempt fell short.
In addition to Monzingo, Lora Assad and Raksha Phadke were named to the SBC All-Tournament team. Assad and Phadke finished in a tie for third place overall, two strokes behind Monzingo. Assad and Anne-Charlotte Mora made drastic improvements in the third and final round as each player carded a 1-over-par 72. Monzingo’s 74 and Phadke’s 79 combined for the other counting scores the Bobcats needed to secure their conference championship.
As a team, Texas State finished with a 297 in the final round. The Bobcats were the only competitors to score under 300 on Tuesday. Troy carded the second-lowest round three score as they carded a 304 on Tuesday. Bianca Lohbauer and Fatima Cano paced the Trojans with a pair of 74's in the final round. Both Cano and Lohbauer were named to the All-Tournament team.
Little Rock placed third in the standings paced by Berger's runner-up finish. Berger was awarded with a spot on the league’s All-Tournament team for her efforts. Little Rock finished with a team score of 920, six shots back of runner-up Troy. Sabrina Bonanno tied for 10th place overall, climbing six spots up the leaderboard with a 3-over 74 in her final round. Bonanno finished the tournament at 16 over par.
Georgia Southern took fourth in the Sun Belt Championship in the program’s inaugural season. Yeji Shin fired a 76 in the final round as she finished tied for sixth overall and earned a spot on the All-Tournament team.
Arkansas State's Aracelly Jimenez Rios rounded out the women's All-Tournament team as she paced the Red Wolves in the final round with a four-over 75.
Texas State will now wait to see what regional it will be selected to compete in. The Women’s Golf Championships Regional Selections will be Monday, April 25 at 5:00 p.m. CT on the Golf Channel. Golf Central will announce live the 72 teams and 24 individuals selected to compete in the four NCAA Women’s Regional Championships on May 5-7.
Individual Standings
1. Maty Monzingo, Texas State - 74-73-74=221
2. Shania Berger, Little Rock - 75-71-75=221
T3. Lora Assad, Texas State - 74-77-72=223
T3. Raksha Phadke, Texas State - 74-70-79=223
5. Bianca Lohbauer, Troy - 73-78-74=225
T6. Aracelly Jimenez Rios, Arkansas State - 75-76-75=226
T6. Yeji Shin, Georgia Southern - 78-72-76=226
T6. Fatima Cano, Troy - 78-74-74=226
9. Beth Ann Compton, Arkansas State - 77-79-71=227
T10. Kaeli Jones, South Alabama - 75-82-72=229
T10. Jemima Gregson, Georgia State - 73-78-78=229
T10. Sabrina Bonanno, Little Rock - 80-75-74=229
Team Leaders
1. Texas State - 301-297=297=895 (43)
2. Troy 300-310-304=914 (62)
3. Little Rock - 309-304-307=920 (68)
4. Georgia Southern - 320-298-309=927 (75)
5. Arkansas State - 310-312-308=930 (78)
6. South Alabama - 312-309-311=932 (80)
7. Georgia State - 311-307-324=942 (90)
8. Appalachian State - 315-319-313=947 (95)
9. UL Monroe - 325-318-320=963 (111)
All-Sun Belt Tournament Team
Shania Berger, Little Rock
Lora Assad, Texas State
Raksha Phadke, Texas State
Bianca Lohbauer, Troy
Aracelly Jimenez Rios, Arkansas State
Yeji Shin, Georgia Southern
Fatima Cano, Troy
Individual Medalist
Maty Monzingo, Texas State