Bickelmann notches first career win behind strong finish
KERRVILLE – UHV's Emmily Bickelmann saved her best for the final round of the Schreiner Shoot-Out.
The junior shot a round-leading 76 in the final round at the Par 72 Club at Comanche Trace to overcome a five-shot deficit to win her first career win. She beat Emma Luna of St. Thomas (TX) by one shot.
The Jaguars (327-318—645) finished third as a team, three strokes better than Red River Athletic Conference rival Our Lady of the Lake. It's the second consecutive Top 3 finish for UHV.
UHV had the third-most birdies (15) among the field of mostly NCAA Division III teams.
Bickelmann, who started on the back 9, used an eagle on the 454-yard, Par 5 18th to bounce back from consecutive bogeys on 16 and 17 and make the turn at one-over.
The Weisbaden, Germany, native and Mia Lerma were the only players in the field to record an eagle during the tournament. Lerma, a senior from Mission and the reigning RRAC Golfer of the Week, eagled the fourth hole – a 463-yard Par 5 – on Tuesday.
Cecelia Niemietz made the biggest improvement on the team, shooting a 78 on the final day for a two-day total of 163 (85-78—163). The Cibolo native finished 16th while Lerma (81-83—164) finished 17th.
Caitlyn Niemietz also turned in a Top 20 finish, going 84-81—165 to finish 18th. She had a team-leading three birdies on her card.
Kaitlin Lopez shot 89-84—173 to finish 27th.
The Jaguars will next compete at the University of Texas-Dallas's Texas Cup at Thorntree Golf Club in Desoto.