NORMAN, Okla. – The University of Houston Women’s Golf program stood in fifth with a score of 4-under 556 following the first day of the Schooner Fall Classic at Belmar Golf Club on Saturday evening.
Schools were originally scheduled to play 18 holes each day through Monday. However, the threat of inclement weather forced tournament organizers to change to a 36-hole schedule on the 6,182-yard, par-70 course on Saturday.
Senior Natalie Saint Germain continued her stellar play at the Schooner Fall Classic during her career and was tied for eighth at 4-under 136. The Prague native opened the 2025-26 season with a score 67 and added a 69 in the afternoon session.
Starting the tournament off No. 10, Saint Germain moved under par with a birdie on the 180-yard, par-3 13th hole but returned to even par with a bogey at No. 17. She opened her second nine with back-to-back birdies and added her final birdie on the par-3 eighth hole.
In the afternoon, Saint Germain birdied two of her first three holes and overcame a bogey at No. 13 with a birdie on the 320-yard, par-4 15th hole. She added her final birdie of the day on the par-5 third hole.
Saldana joined Saint Germain among the Top-15 leaders. The Mexico City native rebounded from a 71 in the First Round to enjoy a bogey-free 66 in the afternoon.
Starting off No. 12, Saldana moved into red numbers with a birdie at No. 15 and added back-to-back birdies at Nos. 1-2 before sinking her final birdie of the day at No. 9.
Junior Ellen Yates was tied for 25th at even-par 140. Competing in her first tournament as a Cougar after transferring from Mercer during the summer, sophomore Emilia Vaisto joined senior Moa Svedenskiold in a tie for 40th at 143.
Playing as an individual in her first collegiate tournament, redshirt freshman Chiara Brambilla was tied for 69th at 148.
Oklahoma State held the team lead at 544 to finish the first day seven strokes ahead of Iowa State. Oklahoma (553) and TCU (555) completed the Top-Five leaders with UCF (557), Texas State (559), Kansas State (559), Florida State (560) and Tulsa (566) rounding out the Top 10.
Oklahoma’s Meg Tilma and Georgia Sydney Givens were tied for first on the individual leaderboard at 132. Oklahoma’s Reagan Chaney stood in third at 133 while Oklahoma State teammates Ellie Bushnell and Grace Kilcrease were tied for fourth at 134.
LIVE SCORING
Fans can follow live scoring at the Schooner Fall Classic by clicking here.
TEE TIMES
For Sunday’s Final Round, the Cougars will compete in groups with student-athletes from TCU and UCF beginning at 10 a.m., Sunday.
Saldana begins the day in the first group off No. 4 with Saint Germain (second group off No. 4), Svedenskiold (first group off No. 5), Yates (second group off No. 5) and Vaisto (No. 6) following. Brambilla begins in the first group off No. 16.
Fans can find Schooner Fall Classic complete tee times and pairings by clicking here.
UP NEXT
Following the Schooner Fall Classic, Houston returns to action when it competes at the Jim West Challenge at Kissing Tree Golf Club in San Marcos, Texas, on Oct. 19-20.
From there, the Cougars close their fall season at the Landfall Tradition at Country Club of Landfall in Wilmington, N.C., on Oct. 24-26.
After the winter break, Houston begins its spring season at the Collegiate Individual at Guadalajara Country Club in Guadalajara, Mexico, on Jan. 30-31.
SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Women’s Golf by providing NIL opportunities and by joining the P.A.R. 4 Club, which provides financial support directly to Houston Women’s Golf for needs beyond its operating budget.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarWGolf on X 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 –
