Jackson secures team medalist honors; Chou is individual champion
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida 一 There’s something special about TPC Sawgrass for the Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi women’s golf team.
Three years after their first PGA WORKS Collegiate victory at the iconic venue, the Islanders claimed their fourth consecutive Women’s Team Division title on May 8 at Sawgrass’ Dye’s Valley course during the 2024 PGA WORKS Collegiate Championship presented by Chase, Kohler and ADT.
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi recorded an 11-over-par 299 team score in Wednesday’s final round to finish at 56-over for the week and win by five shots.
Howard University (61-over) was second following a final-round 9-over-par 297. Delaware State University (92-over) took third with a 15-over-par 303.
The Islanders became the second Women’s team to win at least four consecutive PWCC titles (Bethune-Cookman 2012-19).
“It feels amazing,” said senior Lucie Charbonnier. “I’ve won it every year I’ve played. It’s just like the perfect dream. I have four rings, what more can I have than that?”
Charbonnier, the 2022 and 2023 Women’s Team Medalist, ended her collegiate career with yet another memorable PWCC performance. She recorded five birdies, including three on the front-nine en route to a 3-under-par 69. The Peron, France native finished runner-up in the Women’s Team Medalist race at 5-over-par 221.
Islanders senior Lucia Ramirez (14-over) recorded her lowest round of the week, a 2-over-par 74, while freshman Samantha Gibbs (9-over) shot a final-round 4-over-par 76. Freshman Carla Puente Fernandez (28-over) posted an 8-over-par 80 with sophomore Elsa Tornvall (35-over) at 9-over-par 81.
“Sam, Lucie and Lucia showed up today when they needed to,” said Texas A&M – Corpus Christi Head Coach Pat Stephens. “Our fourth and fifth played pretty well today, hung in there and shot 80, 81. When we need them to show up, they show up and that’s what happened today.”
The victory is extra meaningful for the Islanders as it marked not only their return to TPC Sawgrass, Stephens’ final event as their head coach.
“These girls see this golf course on TV and it’s so iconic,” said Stephens. “To be able to play it under a tournament situation, they’re making memories they’ll be talking to their grandchildren about.
“There’s nothing better than playing a PGA WORKS Collegiate Championship. The job they do and what they do for the student-athletes, it’s a great experience.”
Howard University’s Kendall Jackson (4-over) claimed Women’s Team Division Medalist honors. The junior from Pearland, Texas posted a 1-over-par 73 on Dye’s Valley, highlighted by a clutch birdie at the par-5 17th hole to win by one.
“It feels amazing,” said Jackson. “My putting this week was a difference maker. That’s what keeps you going whenever that putter is rolling, especially the last couple holes. No matter where the putt was I knew I had a good chance to roll it in.”
The Women’s Individual Division was a tightly-contested battle that came down to the final putt on Stadium’s par-4 18th hole.
University of British Columbia junior Una Chou and Eastern Kentucky University junior Dili Sitanonth embarked on the final hole tied at 6-over.
Chou “zoned everything out” and drilled a 4-foot sliding putt for par to shoot 5-over-par 77 and clinch the victory at 6-over-par 222. Sitanonth made bogey to finish second at 7-over-par 223 after also shooting 5-over-par 77.
“It feels surreal right now,” said Chou. “I knew it was close on the back so I was just trying to keep myself in my own lane and hit one shot at a time.”
For more information on the PGA WORKS Collegiate Championship, visit www.PGAWORKSCollegiate.org.
