This Week in WAC Women's Golf - Oct. 28
This Week in WAC Women's Golf - Oct. 28
Complete Release (PDF)
TICKETSMARTER WAC WOMEN'S GOLFER OF THE WEEK ANNOUNCED
Sam Houston's Zulaikah Nasser has been named TicketSmarter Western Athletic Conference Women's Golfer of the Week for October 20 through October 26.
Nasser, a sophomore from Kuala Lampur, Malaysia, won her second tournament of the season, shooting a 10-under-par 206 at the Palmetto Intercollegiate to finish three strokes ahead of the field. A pair of 4-under-par 68's gave Nasser the early lead and a 2-under-par 70 was good enough to hold on to the top spot and earn medalist honors. On the season, she leads the WAC in stroke average at 71.1 per round and has three top-5 finishes, including her two wins, in five appearances.
Other nominees: Grand Canyon's Constanza Guerrero led the Lopes at The Clash at Boulder Creek, using a 2-under-par 70 on the final day to pull into a tie for 17th overall with a 5-over-par 221 … Seattle U's Rivekka Jumagulova tied for 17th at The Clash at Boulder Creek, shooting a 5-under-par 221 … Utah Valley's Victoria Estrada made the most of her return to the site of her 2021 WAC Individual title, setting a new 54-hole school record with a 4-under-par 212 to take second among 102 golfers at The Clash at Boulder Creek.
ON THE TEE
Just one tournament remains as Lamar will head to the Mercer Invitational in Macon, Ga. on Nov. 8-9. The spring portion of the schedule should begin again in late January.
BY THE NUMBERS
Sam Houston's Zulaikah Nasser is the leader in the WAC in stroke average at 71.1 strokes per round. Teammate Jennifer Herbst is second at 71.6, followed by SU's Rivekka Jumagulova in third at 72.7. As a team, SHSU is also the top squad with a 289.7 stroke average. Grand Canyon is second at 294.4 followed by Seattle U in third at 296.0.
UPPING THE COMPETITION
The WAC will be in a unique situation this season with two teams having earned automatic qualifications to NCAA Regionals in May. NM State will be the defending WAC champions, having won the 2021 Championship by seven strokes at Boulder Creek GC before earning a top-10 finish at the NCAA Albuquerque Regional. Sam Houston also earned an automatic selection after winning the Southland Conference Championship by 19 strokes over Central Arkansas. The Bearkats were unable to compete in the NCAA Baton Rouge Regional after wet weather made the course unplayable. Senior Hanna Alberto still advanced to the NCAA Championship, becoming the first SHSU golfer to play at the final site.
IT'S BIGGER IN TEXAS (AND UTAH)
On Jan. 14, the WAC announced the addition of five new schools in the upcoming years. Abilene Christian, Lamar, Sam Houston, Stephen F. Austin and Southern Utah were all offered and accepted membership invitations. With the addition, the WAC now has six schools in Texas, more than any other conference in the country, and will have three schools in Utah, also a national best. The four Texas schools joined the league on July 1, 2021 and Southern Utah will follow 365 days later, officially joining the WAC on July 1, 2022.
WAC CHAMPIONSHIP HEADS TO THE LONE STAR STATE
Originally the site for the canceled 2020 WAC Women's Golf Championship and for the first time since 2004, the WAC Championship heads to Texas as Riverhill Country Club in Kerrville will play host to the conference tournament on April 18-20, 2022. Designed by Byron Nelson and Joe Finger, Riverhill has been host to over 40 USGA and Texas Golf Association events.