No. 1 Women’s Golf Ready for Stephens Cup Against Nation’s Strongest Programs
DALLAS – A few days after the Arkansas women’s golf team came in at No. 1 on the latest Golfweek rankings and won the Blessings Collegiate Invitational, the Hogs are ready for one of its toughest tests of the season, as the team is set to play at the Jackson T. Stephens Cup. This marks the third annual Stephens Cup, an event Arkansas has played from the start, with this year’s tournament taking place from Monday, Oct. 9 to Wednesday, Oct. 11 at Trinity Forest Golf Club in Texas. Coverage of all three days will be broadcast on the Golf Channel.
The tournament is named in honor of the late Jackson (Jack) T. Stephens, who was the former Chairman of the Augusta National Golf Club. Today, the Jackson T. Stephens Cup annually hosts one of the strongest competitions in NCAA golf. This year’s field again features seven NCAA Division 1 men’s and women’s teams, as well as individuals from the leading U.S. Military Service Academies and Historically Black Colleges and Universities. On the women’s team side, all seven teams are ranking inside the top 20 in the Golfweek ranking, five of which are in the top 10, led by the No. 1 Hogs.
On Monday, the teams will play 36 holes and 18 on Tuesday. The top four teams after 54 holes will advance to Wednesday’s match play, in which will be played by seeds. Each day of tournament play will be covered on the Golf Channel in the afternoon slots (3/4 p.m. to 7 p.m. CT).
Arkansas has gotten off to a stellar start, coming off its first win of the season at the Blessings Collegiate. The team carded a 14-under 565 (285-280), as the final round was cancelled due to weather. Prior to the BCI, Arkansas finished as the runner up at the Carmel Cup played at Pebble Beach Golf Links.
Fresh off her first individual medalist win, Maria José Marin is back at the No. 1 spot in the lineup. At the Blessings Collegiate, she won the event by three strokes with a 10-under 134 (67-67) behind 16 birdies in 36 holes. At the Carmel Cup, her first collegiate event, José Marin was the runner up with a 14-under 205 (67-70-68) to match the Arkansas Freshman 54-Hole Record. In her two tournaments, José Marin has logged all five rounds at par or under with four in the 60s. She is No. 28 on the World Amateur Golf Rankings.
Miriam Ayora continues to play great golf, coming off a career-high third place showing at the Blessings Collegiate Invitational with a 4-under 140 (70-70) at the No. 2 spot. She has logged four rounds at par or under and has counted in four of five rounds with a 71.00 scoring average. Ayora played at the 2023 Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G as a sponsor exemption, finishing 2-over par. Last season, Ayora the Hogs with a 73.21 scoring average.
Kendall Todd has delivered in the lineup and is back in the No. 3 spot. She is coming off her first top 10 finish at Arkansas, tying for 10th with a 1-over 145 (74-71). After one tournament, Todd holds a 72.50 scoring average. Todd had the opportunity to play in the Monday qualifier at the NW Arkansas Championship. Todd finished her sophomore year with a 74.07 scoring average and played in 15 rounds.
At the No. 4 spot, Reagan Zibilski is set to play in her third tournament this season with the Hogs. Zibilski tied for 16th at the Blessings Collegiate Invitational with a 3-over 147 (75-72). Following two tournaments, Zibilski holds a 73.00 scoring average with three rounds at par or under. She was also one of three to play in the Monday qualifier at the NW Arkansas Championship. Zibilski played in seven tournaments as a freshman with a 74.80 scoring average.
Completing the lineup is Kajal Mistry at No. 5. The graduate student is coming into her third Stephens Cup with 112 rounds of collegiate golf played under her belt. Mistry is coming off a tie for 19th at the Blessings Collegiate, in which she finished 4-over par (74-74). She was one of three to play in the Monday qualifier at the NW Arkansas Championship. As a senior, Mistry played in all 29 rounds last season to hold a team’s second-best scoring average (73.66).
ARKANSAS LINEUP
1. Maria José Marin
2. Miriam Ayora
3. Kendall Todd
4. Reagan Zibilski
5. Kajal Mistry
COMPETING TEAMS (GOLFWEEK RANKINGS)
1. Arkansas (1)
2. Stanford (2)
3. Wake Forest (3)
4. Texas A&M (5)
5. South Carolina (6)
6, Texas (12)
7. Duke (18)
Individuals: Shani Waite (Prairie View A&M), Kendall Jackson (Howard), Miness Siame (Texas Southern) and Stephanie Lee (Navy)
COURSE
Trinity Forest Golf Club – Dallas, Texas – Par 72 – 6,258 yards
LIVE SCORING
UP NEXT
Three Hogs will play at the Little Rock Women’s Golf Classic from Oct. 22-24 in Hot Springs, Arkansas as individuals before putting a complete wrap to the fall season. Arkansas will be back for the spring season for the Puerto Rico Classic from Sunday, Feb. 4 to Tuesday, Feb. 6 at the Grande Reserve Golf Club in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico.
MORE INFORMATION
Keep up with all of the latest news and information and get behind the scenes looks into our program on our social media accounts. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @RazorbackWGolf and check out our Facebook page “Razorback Women’s Golf.” Stats, news and player information can be found at ArkansasRazorbacks.com.