Cardinals Break Multiple Records and Take Home Gold

SAN ANTONIO - Through three tournaments, University of the Incarnate Word women's golf team broke four records and took home a first-place trophy.
 
The team traveled to Kansas State for their first

tournament of the fall season. The Cardinals secured fourth place, topping Nebraska, Arkansas State University and Toledo University.
 
"K-State we were in the mix with the big dogs and that tournament kickstarted our confidence," head coach Aimee Ponte said. "We know that any event we show up to we can win."
 
The next stop for the Cardinals was the Huntsville Toyota Bearkat Invitational where junior Ellen Nicholas took first place and broke the UIW 54-hole record with a final score of 208.
 
The excitement continued as the team took first place at the New Mexico State Aggie invitational. Nicholas took first once again and the team broke the low round record for 18, 36, and 54 holes.
 
Since stepping in as interim head women's golf coach in August, Ponte's main priority has been changing the team dynamic.
 
"I really wanted to have a tight-knit group," Ponte said. "This year when we go on these trips, the traveling team is like six sisters. We're such a close group and it's shown in our results."
 
Golf is a very individual sport, but Ponte wanted to emphasize to her team that it's bigger than just one person.
 
"I absolutely love this team," Nicholas said. "No matter where you are on the golf course, if you look forwards or backwards, there's always a teammate waving at you.  You know that you're fighting for your team and not just your own score."
 
The team was ecstatic at the end of the New Mexico State Aggie Invitational but had to wait on coach to check the final score cards before celebrating.
 
The Cardinals beat out the home Aggies by one shot. "We got them by one, we've done it," Pointe told the team.
 
"We take it one day and tournament at a time. We've got a really good thing going now an this gave us the confidence that we've been waiting for," Ponte said.
 
UP NEXT
The team rounds out their fall season as they travel to the Ptarmigan Ram Classic October 18-19.

FOLLOW ALONG
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Follow the team on Twitter @UIWWomensGolf and on Instagram @uiwwomensgolf
 

--UIW CARDINALS--