(Story Courtesy of Trinity University Sports Information Department)
HOUSTON, Texas -- No. 14 Trinity University Women's Golf remained 15th in the 2022 NCAA III National Championship field Wednesday with a second-round tally of 318 (+30), a one-shot improvement from Tuesday's opening round.
Reigning Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference medalist Kiona Hsiu led the way for the Tigers as she started the afternoon from the 10th tee with four straight even pins. The sophomore began her ascent through the individual leaderboard with a par-three birdie on the 14th, then finished the back nine with a pair of par-four birds heading through the turn.
Hsiu began the day tied for 15th in the 151-player field and rose all the way up to second with seven more pars in a row through the front nine, but her momentum ran out with back-to-back bogeys on the 8th and 9th to close the one-under (71) round tied for fourth overall. A key to the two-time All-SCAC first-teamer's performance is her tournament-leading two-under pace through 20 par-four pins, three strokes ahead of the field.
Tiger rookie Alejandra Sanchez De la Fuente Molino maintained her supporting role for Hsiu with a five-over (77) output. The first-year dipped under par early with one of two Trinity birdies on the par-five 11th to finish two-over before the turn. A par-four bird on the first hole opened her latter half, then a second par-five bird on the fifth pin kept her to a three-over pace on the front nine which left her in a tie for 25th. Sanchez De la Fuente Molino ranks third in the tournament in par-five scoring as she is four-under on eight par-fives.
Sophomore Erin Flynn was responsible for the other Tiger birdie on the 11th, though it was after the turn where she picked up her pace as her three-over output on the front nine landed her an 82 (+10) for the day.
The Tigers remained on the third-round cut line through the first 36 holes through quality performance in a few key areas. As a unit, Trinity ranks 12th in par-three play (+18) and 10th in birdies (15). Twelve of those birdies are split between Sanchez De la Fuente Molino (7) and Hsiu (5), which ranks sixth and 14th, respectively.
No. 14 Trinity Women's Golf returns to the Bay Oaks Country Club Wednesday for a 12:30pm CT tee time from the 10th tee. Following Thursday's action, the 2022 NCAA III Women's Golf Championship field will be trimmed to the top 15 teams, along with the six highest individual scorers of the eliminated teams.
