The University of Houston Women’s Golf team finished in second place at the Big 12 Championship presented by Allstate, held at Dallas Athletic Club on April 25. The Cougars posted a final round score of 293, ending six strokes behind Iowa State.
This result marks the highest finish for Houston at a Big 12 Championship and is their best performance at a conference postseason event since placing second at the American Athletic Conference Championships in 2022. The team competed on a par-72 course measuring 6,270 yards.
Junior Maelynn Kim led the Cougars with a final round score of 71 and secured third place overall with a three-day total of three-under-par (213), her best showing in any conference championship. Senior teammates Natalie Saint Germain and Moa Svedenskiöld also finished among the top ten leaders, earning spots on the Big 12 All-Tournament Team. Svedenskiöld received her third career Conference All-Tournament honor while Saint Germain earned her second after tying for tenth last year.
Kim moved under par early but faced consecutive bogeys before regaining momentum with birdies on her back nine. Saint Germain recorded her career-best finish with sixteen pars and only two bogeys to tie for fifth place at one-under-par (215). Svedenskiöld finished tied for tenth after shooting consecutive rounds of 73.
Other notable performances included senior Alexa Saldaña tying for nineteenth and sophomore Emilia Väistö finishing tied for forty-fourth in her championship debut. Iowa State’s Nichakorn Pinprayoon and UCF’s Mila Jurine shared medalist honors with scores of seven-under-par (209).
Looking ahead, Houston will await its postseason placement during the NCAA Selection Show scheduled for April 29 on Golf Channel. The program has participated in NCAA Regional play every season except its inaugural year due to regulations, being selected as a team nine times over the past ten seasons.
