Photo courtesy of UTA Athletics
UTA women’s golf is swinging into the end of the season as it prepares for the 2026 Western Athletic Conference championship, running Monday through Wednesday at The Clubs of Stonebridge Ranch in McKinney, Texas.
Head coach Catherine Matranga will be at the helm for her seventh season. Matranga has been with the program since it started in 2016, joining as an associate head coach.
Under her leadership, the Mavericks have set multiple program bests, including the lowest team round in school history (280) and the program’s first under-par team round. She has also helped improve the team’s national ranking and overall scoring average.
Matranga said she wants the players to focus on the little things, making sure they are dialed in and confident going into the tournament. She said the team will stick to its routine and keep things simple to avoid pressuring players.
“It’s been fun to see, and it’s been a good season so far, and hopefully, continuing on that same trend and going out and winning a conference championship,” Matranga said.
The team posted a season-best second-place finish in the Bowling Green State University Women’s Intercollegiate, their first spring competition, in February. As a team, the Mavericks finished 16-over-par, five strokes behind tournament winner UT El Paso.
The Mavericks are entering the conference tournament with experience, bringing three seniors, two juniors and a sophomore. Senior Nitisha Manikandesh is in her third and final season with UTA. She said the high experience on the team has helped with chemistry and preparation and that she is most grateful for her teammates.
“We know how to place the ball, we know the strategy for those courses. We know what to expect,” Manikandesh said. “Just knowing how to prepare for a golf tournament, knowing what to expect whenever you’re going to a golf tournament, is something you gain with that experience.”
In last year’s WAC championship, UTA placed fifth with a team score of 894. Manikandesh led UTA, placing third individually, which capped her junior year with her best performance of the season.
The winner of this year’s conference tournament will represent the WAC in the NCAA regional championships.
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