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 18^th 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 16^th while Lerma (81-83—164) finished 17^th.

Caitlyn Niemietz also turned in a Top 20 finish, going 84-81—165 to finish 18^th. She had a team-leading three birdies on her card.

Kaitlin Lopez shot 89-84—173 to finish 27^th.

The Jaguars will next compete at the University of Texas-Dallas's Texas Cup at Thorntree Golf Club in Desoto.