The No. 14 Texas A&M women’s golf team landed in third at the Chevron Collegiate at the par 72, 6,171-yard Golf Club of Houston-Tournament Course on Feb. 26-27.
Coach Gerrod Chadwell took junior Adela Cernousek, freshman Cayetana Fernández García-Poggio, graduate Jennie Park, graduate Blanca Fernandez Garcia-Poggio and senior Zoe Slaughter on the two-day tourney.
The Aggies headed to Humble to defend their title, previously known as the ICON Invitational, with a 34-under 830 team score. The Maroon and White were the team to beat last year in individuals as well with Slaughter holding her 2023 win.
Playing 36 holes on Monday, A&M was the highest-ranked team at No. 14 coming into Round 1, followed by then-No. 29 Houston.
Also ranked at No. 14 individually was Cernousek with a 42.76 average in 18 rounds. She scored 9-under 135 through 36 and was positioned as solo first by the end of day one.
Cernousek led the Maroon and White to a 23-under 553 during the first two rounds on Monday, Feb. 26 with the second-lowest 36-hole in program history.
The Aggies tied for the sixth-lowest round for the program after their first 18 with an 11-under 277, but they came back with a 12-under 276 for Round 2.
Ranked the No. 2 amateur in the world, Cayetana Fernández García-Poggio scored a 3-under 69 at the end of Round 1 and went 5-under 67 during Round 2, holing five birdies and tying for fourth by the end of Day 1.
All-American Park scored a 5-under 139 for 36 holes and tied for 20th. Slaughter and Blanca Fernandez Garcia-Poggio each tied for 38th and 45th.
“Great day overall from our group,” Chadwell said after the first day. “We were really good during the middle of the day, which is a testament to the things we are doing away from the golf course back home. We have some things we want to clean up for tomorrow, but I know we are going to come out and put together a great 18 holes.”
A&M stood tied for first with SMU, going 23-under 553 by the end of Day 1.
“It was awesome to see a bunch of Aggies out there supporting us, and I know it impacted the way we played,” Chadwell said. “I hope to see them back out there tomorrow to yell and give us some energy.”
Going into Day 2 and Round 3, the Aggies carded the second-lowest 54-hole score in program history with a 24-under 840, yet still behind No. 35 Maryland and SMU.
Cernousek and Cayetana Fernández García-Poggio shared 13th individually with 8-under 208. Slaughter moved up to tie for 25th after scoring a 3-under 69. Park was tied for 30th and Blanca Fernandez Garcia-Poggio shared 43rd.
The Aggies rounded out the Chevron Collegiate in third with 24-under 840. Finishing in second was Maryland with 29-under 835. Taking home the win was SMU with a 33-under 831.
“Today was a learning opportunity that we need to take advantage of,” Chadwell said. “We haven’t quite been able to put it all together yet this season. Fortunately, we still have time, and this wasn’t the last round of the year. I am excited to get back home and work on what we need to work on.”
The Aggies will hit the road to Tucson, Arizona to compete in the Mountain View Collegiate at The Preserve at Saddlebrooke Golf Club from March 15-17.
