LeTourneau University

 

 

WOMEN’S GOLF

The LeTourneau University women’s golf team took fifth-place honors at the LeTourneau Spring Classic at the Pinecrest Country Club in Longview on Tuesday.

The YellowJackets shot a 36-hole total of 709 (360-349) for its second lowest 36-hole total of the season. Tyler Junior College won the team title with a 658 (323-335) to edge ASC member Mary Hardin-Baylor by nine strokes for the title. The Apaches also had the individual winner, BoYoung Park, who shot a 158 (75-83).

“Our women’s team just keeps playing better and better, plus they keeping working harder and harder and I believe we’ll continue climbing the leaderboards and improving. I’m very proud to be their coach,” said LETU head coach Walt Williams.

Senior Sydney Cash and freshman Kristin Boone, who tied for 12th with a 172 (87-85) and 14th with a 174 (87-87), respectively, led LETU. Sophomore Melanie Pedigo closed out the tournament with an 85 for her second-lowest round of the season en route to a 177 (92-85) to share 16th-place honors. Junior Alisa Wilson and freshman Faith Williams shot an 186 (94-92) and 191 (96-95), respectively. As an individual, senior Kaitlynn Conway posted a career-best improvement of 27 strokes for a 36-hole total of 227 (113-114).

The YellowJackets will next play in the D3 National Spring Preview at the Bay Oaks Country Club in Houston, April 4-5.

MEN’S GOLF

The LeTourneau University men’s golf team finished third at the LeTourneau Spring Classic at the Pinecrest Country Club on Tuesday.

The YellowJackets, who shot its best score through the first 36 holes on the season on Monday, closed out the tournament with a final round 306 for a 54-hole total of 889 (293-290-889). The 889 posted by the YellowJackets is the second lowest 54-hole total since 2003 when the LETU posted an 873 at the John Bohmann Memorial Invitational in 2005.

ASC member Mary Hardin-Baylor took home the team title with an 874 (289-292-293) for a 12-stroke victory over Tyler Junior College. LETU finished ahead of ASC rivals, UT Dallas (6th), Howard Payne (8th) and Louisiana College (9th) as well as regional opponent Texas Lutheran (7th).

LeTourneau landed all five of its golfers in the top 15 including junior Seth Walters, who led the YellowJackets with a 10th-place finish. Walters shot a 54-hole total of 223 (75-72-76). Marco Maldonado of Tyler Junior College edged out Reese Chance of Mary Hardin-Baylor for the individual title with a 212 (70-67-75). A stroke back behind Walters were teammates Daniel Kay, who shot a 225 (73-80-72) and Juan Rodriguez, who also shot a 225 (76-72-77) to share 11th with Zach Daroowala of Mary Hardin-Baylor.

Sophomore Mason Terry finished 14th with a 226 (72-73-81), and senior Houston Moore tied for 15th with Tanner Landry of UT Dallas after posting a 227 (73-73-81).

Terry led LETU with 11 birdies, followed by nine by Walters. Rodriguez, Moore and Kay each had 30 pars to lead LETU.

“The guys played spectacular, yesterday and played solid today,” said LETU head coach Walt Williams. “I am very proud of our third-place finish in a high field. I can’t ever remember having all five of the players on my team finish in the top 15 in such a quality field. I am very proud of these young men.”

The LeTourneau B team consisting of Shance Sims, Jacob Soerens, Chris Clark, Nathan Kleoppel and Derek Walton was ninth. Sims tied for 22nd with a 231, followed by Soerens, who shared 35th with a 241 (77-81-83) and Clark, who posted a 247 (79-85-83) to share 42nd. Kleoppel was 44th with a 248 (85-79-84), and Walton was 50th with a 289 (102-88-99) to round out the LETU lineup.

The YellowJackets will now prepare for the upcoming ASC Golf Championships, April 10-12 at the Commanche Trail Golf Club in Kerrville, Texas.