WHITNEY, Texas -- The Trinity University women led wire-to-wire and captured its fourth consecutive SCAC title with a dominant 58-shot victory Tuesday afternoon on The New Course at White Bluff Golf Resort in Whitney, Texas. Official Championship Website | Women's Results - Team | Women's Results - Individual | Photo Gallery | Post Tournament Interview with Trinity Head Coach Shelby Devore | Post Tournament Interview with Trinity's Kiona Hsiu
The 58 shot margin is the fourth-largest in SCAC women's golf tournament history and the most for the Tigers during their current four-year winning streak. Their winning score of 934 is the lowest three round women's score in league history - 12 shots better than the three-day total of 946 shot by the Centre College women at the 2012 championships - the last year the league had a 54-hole tournament for the women prior to this year's event.
The Tigers finished with a team-high 15 birdies over the 54 holes and posted 160 pars en route to their fourth consecutive title. Trinity is just the second program in conference history to win four-straight titles, joining former member DePauw University who won five consecutive crowns from 2002-06.
For the Tigers, this marks the eighth SCAC title in program history (1995, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2021, 2022, 2023), tying them with Southwestern for the most women’s golf titles in league history.
Trinity senior Kiona Hsiu made history on Tuesday becoming just the fourth athlete in SCAC women’s golf history to earn multiple medalist honors. Hsiu fired a league record low third round score of 74 to erase a 10-stroke deficit heading into the final round to capture her second medalist honor in the last three years. She joins Emily Burch of Rhodes College (2000, 01), Sarah Gates of DePauw (2004, 05, 06) and Marisa Mauldin of Southwestern (2007, 08, 09) as the only other multi time medalist winners. Her three-round total of 231 (78 – 79 – 74) is the second lowest 54-hole total in league history. Hsiu led the field with 36 pars on the week and finished tied for ninth with three birdies.
In addition, Trintiy place four others on All-SCAC squads as all five Tigers finished in the top-10. Joining Hsiu on the All-SCAC First Team was Jessica Mason (79-74-80 – 233) and Erin Flynn (76-76-82 – 234) finishing tied for second and tied for fourth respectively. Mason finished tied for third with four birdies on the week, while Flynn was one of just two golfers to record an eagle during the championship. Hsiu and Flynn became just the fourth- and fifth-women’s golfers in SCAC history and the first in Trinity women’s golf history to earn four-straight First-Team All-SCAC honors.
Last year’s medalist Alejandra Sanchez De la Fuente Molino finished sixth (83-76-79 – 238) and Lauren Huddleston finished tied for ninth (82-85-81 – 248) to earn Second-Team All-SCAC accolades to round out the Trinity all-conference performers. The duo combined for four birdies and 60 pars over the three championship rounds.
Southwestern University finished in second place with a team score of 992 (328-318-346), the 10th best 54-hole team score in SCAC history. The Pirates were led by Ryleigh Erickson and Sydney Jackson who both earned All-SCAC accolades. Erickson finished tied for second with a three-round total of 233 (74-73-86), her second-straight First Team All-SCAC honor and fourth career all-conference certificate. She finished the week tied for third with three birdies and carded one eagle. Jackson collected Second-Team accolades after finishing seventh with a total score of 239 (84-80-75).
The University of St. Thomas finished third following rounds of 331, 324 and 340 for a three-day total of 995. A duo of Celts, led by Emma Luna’s (82-76-84 – 242) eighth-place finish and Trinity Le’s (82-81-85 – 248) tie for ninth place finish to earn Second Team All-SCAC honors. For Le, it marked her fourth-straight All-SCAC award, while Luna’s marked her third consecutive honor.
University of Dallas turned in its third consecutive fourth place finish with a three-round total of 1,037 (357-337-343). The Crusaders were paced by Kimberly Burch who returned to the All-SCAC First Team after finishing tied for fourth with a total score of 234 (77-78-79). Burch who was Second Team All-SCAC as a sophomore, also collected First Team honors in 2022 as a first year. She finished the week tied for third with four birdies and tied for second in par five scoring with an even 5.00 average during the championship.
Rounding out the team standings, Schreiner University finished fifth with a team score of 1,085, Texas Lutheran took home sixth (1,155) and Centenary College placed seventh after a three-day total of 1,255.
The SCAC will send its conference champion to the NCAA tournament via an automatic berth, with Trinity earning the distinction and trip to Keene Trace Golf Club in Nicholasville, Ky., for this year’s championship, May 21-24. Other conference teams and individuals will await word of at-large selections when the NCAA makes that announcement on Monday, May 13.
2024 All-SCAC Women's Golf First Team
1. Kiona Hsiu, Trinity - 78-79-74 -- 231
T2. Ryleigh Erickson, Southwestern - 74-73-86 -- 233
T2. Jessica Mason, Trinity - 79-74-80 --233
T4. Erin Flynn, Trinity - 76-76-82 -- 234
T4. Kimberly Burch, Dallas - 77-78-79 -- 234
2024 All-SCAC Women's Golf Second Team
6. Alejandra Sanchez De la Fuente Molino, Trinity - 83 -76 - 79 -- 238
7. Sydney Jackson, Southwestern - 84-80-75 -- 239
8. Emma Luna, St. Thomas - 82-76-84 --242
T9. Lauren Huddleston, Trinity - 82-85-81 -- 248
T9. Trinity Le, St. Thomas - 82-81-85 -- 248
2024 SCAC Women's Golf Tournament Medalist
Kiona Hsiu, Trinity University
For a complete wrap-up of today's final round, including a Day Three photo gallery, click here for the official website of the 2024 SCAC Women's Golf Championship.
