HOUSTON – After leading the University of Houston Women’s Golf at the recent conference postseason event, seniors Annie Kim and Maria Jose Martinez and sophomore Nicole Abelar were named to the All-American Athletic Conference Team on Tuesday.
This marks the fourth straight season and the first under Carolyn Macow Leatherwood Head Coach Lydia Gumm in which the Cougars have enjoyed 3+ All-Conference honorees. It also marked the fifth time in program history in which the Cougars recorded that total in a single season.
NICOLE ABELAR
Competing in her first season with the Cougars after transferring from Coastal Carolina, Abelar earned her first postseason award with the Cougars after recording a score of 222 to lead Houston to earn a season-best fourth-place finish at the recent American Championships.
The Metro Manila, Philippines native posted a 1-under 71 in the Second Round of The American Championships to tie her season-low round.
While this was her first postseason honor at Houston, it was far from the first postseason accolade of her career. Abelar finished second at the Sun Belt Championships as a freshman with the Chanticleers in 2020-21 and was named the league’s Freshman of the Year and a member of the All-Sun Belt Conference First Team.
She also earned a place on the Sun Belt Championships All-Tournament Team.
ANNIE KIM
Kim was the Cougars’ leading competitor throughout the 2021-22 season. The Seoul native led the team with a 73.50 scoring average and 11 rounds of par or better, including a team season-low 67 in the Second Round of the MountainView Collegiate on March 19.
She enjoyed five Top-25 finishes this year with a season-best fourth-place showing at the Blessings Collegiate Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark., on Oct. 4-6, 2021.
A two-time member of the American Athletic Conference All-Academic Team, Kim opened The American Championships with an even-par 72 and tied for 12th at 225 in her debut at the conference tournament.
This was the first postseason honor of her career.
MARIA JOSE MARTINEZ
Martinez was the Cougars’ lone three-year letterwinner in 2021-22. The Alvarado, Mexico, native finished second on the team with a 74.67 average and added seven rounds of par or better.
She posted a 15th-place finish at the Schooner Fall Classic in Norman, Okla., on Sept. 25-27, 2021.
Martinez earned the second postseason honor of her career. She was named to the All-Conference squad after finishing sixth at The American Championships as a true freshman in 2018-19.
Abelar, Kim and Martinez were joined on the All-Conference Team by Zoe Allaux (UCF), Camille Banzet (UCF), Tunradda Piddon (UCF), Kathryn Carson (East Carolina), Melanie Green (South Florida), Serena Shah (SMU), Kennedy Pedigo (SMU), Carla Bernat (Tulane), Daozeng Liu (Tulane), Sandra Vazquez (Tulane), Sydney Seigel (Tulsa) and Lilly Thomas (Tulsa).
Piddon was named the Player of the Year while Allaux was honored as the Freshman of the Year. Tulane’s Stew Burke was named the league’s Coach of the Year.
JOIN the P.A.R. 4 CLUB
Fans are invited to join The P.A.R. 4 Club to support Houston Women’s Golf. P.A.R. 4 Club members provide financial support directly to Houston Women’s Golf for needs beyond the program’s operating budget.
Fans who join the P.A.R. 4 Club can begin receiving benefits for as little as $100 annually. For more information about the P.A.R. 4 Club, levels of giving and benefits, fans can click here.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarWGolf on Twitter and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team’s Facebook page at UHCougarWGolf or on the team’s Instagram page at UHCougarWGolf.
– UHCougars.com –
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