Whataburger Week One Preview: Women’s Golf

THE 2024-25 SEASON
 
Last year UT Tyler women’s golf battled their way to their second NCAA Division II West Regional Tournament appearance as a team and also saw their second individual appearance in the NCAA Division II National Tournament as Arnie Taguines placed 13^th.
 
The Patriots as a program finished 5^th at the LSC Tournamend and 6^th at the NCAA West Regional Tournament, and during the regular season finished no worse than sixth in nine total events.
 
RETURNING PRODUCTION
 
That strong year for the Patriots was highlighted by several key players, all of which will return for another year in 2025-26. Arnie Taguines was named a WGCA First Team All-America selection, and she also was named All-West Region along with LSC Newcomer of the Year Emmerson Doyle.
 
That pair is joined by All-LSC Second Team member Karina Duran, and Martha Laremark also makes her return to the program as they look to lead the team to new heights. Joining that quartet is Lilly Phelps, Lindsey Li, and Faith Ann Chinn, who each return to the program and will help lead just two newcomers this season.
 
EARLY RECOGNITION
 
The Patriots were selected #17 in the Women’s Golf Coaches Association Preseason Top 25. They finished the 2024-25 season as the #16 ranked team in the final WGCA Coaches Poll, and the Patriots remain one of the premiere teams at the Division II level.
 

DBU takes the #1 spot in the preseason poll, while West Texas A&M sits at #8, St. Mary’s at #12, and Midwestern State is #22 to round out the Lone Star Conference teams represented in the poll.
 
THE DBU WOMEN’S CLASSIC
 
This year’s DBU Women’s Classic will take place at Oakmont Country Club in Corinth, Texas and his hosted by #1 DBU. 14 Division II teams will take to the course, with nine of those 14 being top 25 programs and an additional three teams receiving votes in the WGCA Preseason Poll.
 
The Patriots lineup will consist of Taguines, Lucy Kate Smith, Laremark, Doyle, and Duran in the top five, with Lindsey Li and Lilly Phelps competing as individuals. The tournament will be 54 holes, with 36 coming on Monday.