POINT CLEAR, Ala. – Hailey Jones shot the lowest round of the tournament on Wednesday to become the first Texas State women's golfer to win Sun Belt Conference individual medalist honors in seven years while the Bobcats secured the No. 1 seed for match play that will decide the team conference championship.
 
Jones turned in a 5-under 67 in Wednesday's final round of stroke play at The Lakewood Club (Par 72, 6,097 yards) to win the individual conference championship. The graduate student, in her first season as a Bobcat, became the first Bobcat to win the individual title since Sasikarn Somboonsup in 2017. Jones is the fifth Bobcat all-time to win the individual medalist honors at a conference championship.
 
Lifted by Jones' low round, the Bobcats were the only team to finish under par in stroke play as they shot 3-under for the three rounds (287-294-280; 861). Texas State carded an 8-under 280 in the final round on Wednesday, which was the lowest round by any of the 13 teams by more than seven strokes.
 
The Bobcats led all teams in stroke play by 16 strokes. Georgia Southern, who grabbed the No. 2 seed for match play, was the next closest team with a 13-over (288-301-288; 877).
 
"Solid play from the whole team over the last three days," said Par Nilsson, Texas State head coach. "Everyone contributed and it was a great effort. Hailey was very impressive all week, but today was spectacular. The last round of 67 was as good as it gets."

Jones had an eagle, four birdies and only one bogey to turn in the 67, which tied her best round of the season. Holding a one-shot lead through 15 holes, Jones turned in the eagle on the par-5 16th hole to pull away by three strokes. She recorded pars on the final two holes to clinch the individual title.
 
All four scorers for the Bobcats on Wednesday shot even-par or better. Yvonne Chamness turned in a 2-under 70, Junia Gabasa had a 1-under 71, and Fia Lindblom was even-par 72.
 
Gabasa joined Jones in the top-five as the senior finished tied for fifth on the individual leaderboard with a 2-over 218 (71-76-71). Both were named to the All-Sun Belt Team.
 
Lindblom placed tied for 10th with a 4-over 220 (69-79-72).
 
Texas State will face No. 4 seed Old Dominion in the semifinals of match play on Thursday starting at 7:30 am. The winner will face the winner between Georgia Southern and ULM in the finals in the afternoon.
 
Live scoring of match play will be on Golfstat. It will also be broadcast on ESPN+ (semifinals; finals).
 
 
Course Info
The Lakewood Club (Dogwood Course) – Par 72, 6,097 yards
 
Team Standings – Final Stroke Play
1. Texas State, -3 (287-294-280; 861)
2. Georgia Southern, +13 (288-301-288; 877)
3. ULM, +15 (284-303-292; 879)
4. ODU, +21 (290-301-294; 885)
5. Arkansas State, +22 (301-293-292; 886)
6. Coastal Carolina, +24 (294-307-287; 888)
7. Marshall, +26 (301-292-297; 890)
8. Southern Miss, +28 (291-307-294; 892)
9. Georgia State, +33 (298-301-298; 897)
10. James Madison, +44 (297-306-305; 908)
11. Troy, +55 (309-312-298; 919)
12. App State, +81 (316-309-320; 945)
13. South Alabama, +164 (339-350-339; 1028)
 
Texas State Individuals – Final
1. Hailey Jones, -5 (72-72-67; 211)
T-5. Junia Gabasa, +2 (71-76-71; 218)
T-10. Fia Lindblom, +4 (75-73-72; 220)
T-27. Carla Bourdeaux, +8 (75-73-76; 224)
30. Yvonne Chamness, +9 (82-73-70; 225)
 
All-Time Individual Conference Championships, Texas State Program History
2024: Hailey Jones (Sun Belt Conference)
2017: Sasikarn Somboonsup (Sun Belt Conference)
2016: Maty Monzingo (Sun Belt Conference)
2008: Linn Gustafsson (Southland Conference)
2002: Sarah Brooks (Southland Conference)