[Women's Golf] Sayyalinh wins South Padre Invitational as Women's Golf finishes fifth

LAGUNA VISTA, Texas – After trailing by one shot after the first round, Kansas Wesleyan's Kristen Sayyalinh (FR/Rockford, Ill.) won her first collegiate tournament shooting a second round 80, to come away with a six-shot win at the South Padre Invitational that was held Monday and Tuesday at the South Padre Island Golf Club.

"What a great start to the spring season for Kristen," KWU golf coach Randy Syring said.

Conditions for Tuesday's round were not ideal, but better than what the team had been dealing with in Salina according to Syring.

"It rained for six holes today, then it got windy," he said. "Nonetheless I am pleased with our performance considering that we have had almost no outside practice leading up to the tournament and we were without MacKenzie (Fabrizius, who is student teaching this semester)."

Sayyalinh posted a score of 155 (75-80) to finish 11-over for the tournament, securing the tournament win over Natchawan Serisamran from NCAA Division II Texas A&M International.

Mikaela Johnson (JR/Salina, Kan.) was 14th with a 182 (95-87) for the Coyotes.

"Mikaela came back with a good round of 87 today," Syring said. "That should help her confidence going forward."

Chandler Birkholz (SO/Eureka, Kan.) tied for 17th with a 192 (92-100) and Kat Downey (SR/Augusta, Kan.) was 22nd with a 255 (122-133).

Wesleyan was fifth in the team standings with a team score of 784 (384-400). Texas A&M International was the team champion with a team score of 667.

Next up for the Coyote women will be the first leg of the KCAC Championships on March 18 and 19 at Crestview Country Club in Wichita.