WKU Women’s Golf entered Wednesday, the final day of the Conference USA Women’s Golf Championships, six shots behind the leader, Jacksonville State.
The Lady Toppers then shot a team score of 288 – the best team score of the day by 10 strokes – and jumped the Gamecocks to earn their first CUSA championship in program history.
“What an incredible day for our program! I was so impressed with how each of the girls stayed focused on every shot and came out on top for our first-ever conference title,” Head Coach Adam Gary said in a press release from WKU Athletics.
Along with the team championship, junior Sydney Hackett became the second Lady Topper all-time to win the Conference USA individual title. She entered Wednesday four shots behind the lead, but played her way into a playoff against New Mexico State’s Emma Bunch. Hackett made a birdie on the first playoff hole, besting Bunch and securing the title.
“Today, it was just a matter of sticking to my routine and trusting myself,” Hackett said in a press release. “I felt oddly calm out there and kept making myself stay in the present.”
Including Hackett, WKU had five Lady Toppers finish in the top 25 of the championships. Senior Catie Craig finished fifth, freshman Kaylee Dwyer finished 12th, sophomore Julia Zigrossi finished 20th, and junior Averi Cline finished 24th.
The Lady Toppers will look to ride momentum into the NCAA Regionals May 5-7. WKU’s location in the tournament will be announced during the NCAA Selection Show on April 23 at noon. The selection show will be broadcast on the Golf Channel.
“I am incredibly proud of our team and can’t wait to see where we head for regionals,” Gary said.
Sports Editor Jake McMahon can be reached at [email protected].
