Texas Women’s Golf Shines in Palos Verdes, O’Keefe Wins in Playoff as Longhorns Finish Second
PALOS VERDES ESTATES, Calif. - The Texas women’s golf team didn’t just show up at the Therese Hession Regional Challenge - they made a statement. Led by Farah O’Keefe’s playoff victory and top-five finishes from Cindy Hsu and Lauren Kim, the Longhorns delivered their strongest performance of the season, finishing second overall at the Palos Verdes Golf Club.
The No. 11-ranked Longhorns saved their best for last, firing a 5-under team score in the final round - tied for the second-best round of the day. Only UCLA, who finished the tournament at 8-under, managed to go under par for the week.
Texas closed at 3-over, good enough to take runner-up honors and notch wins over some of the nation’s top teams, including No. 2 USC, No.
3 Oregon, No. 6 Florida, No.
7 Texas A&M, and No. 9 Pepperdine.
The final round was a showcase of composure and clutch play. O’Keefe, Hsu, and Kim combined to shoot 9-under on Tuesday, powering Texas to the podium and giving the team a big jolt of momentum heading into the spring stretch.
O’Keefe Delivers Again
Farah O’Keefe continues to prove why she’s one of the top amateurs in the world. Ranked No. 8 globally, the sophomore picked up her second collegiate win after clinching medalist honors in a playoff.
Her consistency this season has been nothing short of elite - five tournaments, five top-10 finishes (including three top-fives), and 13 of 15 rounds at par or better. That’s the kind of rhythm coaches dream about heading into championship season.
O’Keefe credited her mental approach as a major factor in her win. “The biggest thing from this week is how present I stayed,” she said.
“Working with Brian Cain has really helped me in having a process to revert back to. I know how I do my best thinking to produce a chance to be successful.”
And about that chip-in? “As I was walking up, I honestly thought this looks like it could go in,” O’Keefe said. “But then I went straight back to what I needed to focus on - staying neutral and executing.”
Hsu and Kim Keep the Heat On
Cindy Hsu, who already has a collegiate win under her belt from the fall, nearly added another. She carded a 4-under 67 in the final round to finish third overall at 4-under for the tournament. Her closing round was a model of steady, aggressive play - exactly what you want from a player in contention.
Lauren Kim, a seasoned veteran with a knack for showing up in big moments, added her ninth career top-five finish. She fired a 3-under round on Tuesday to finish 2-under for the tournament. Kim’s ability to stay dialed in under pressure added a crucial boost to Texas’ team score.
Building Depth Behind the Big Three
While the top of the lineup carried the load, Texas also saw flashes of promise from the rest of the roster. Angela Heo made three birdies in her final round, finishing with a 4-over 75. Selina Liao and Alisa Inprasit each added a birdie in their final rounds as well, with Inprasit turning in a 1-under round in the second round of the tournament.
There’s still work to be done in rounding out the four and five spots in the lineup, but the pieces are there - and head coach Laura Ianello knows it.
“I was really proud of the ladies this week,” Ianello said. “Farah with the victory, Cindy just one back, and Lauren coming up huge today - you can’t ask for much more from your top three. If we can piece together a four and five score, we’ll be right there in the winner’s circle.”
Looking Ahead
This second-place finish marks the Longhorns’ best result of the season and comes against arguably one of the strongest fields outside of the national championship. It’s a performance that not only turns heads but sets the tone for what’s to come.
Next up: the Moon Invitational in Melbourne, Florida from February 15-17. With the way O’Keefe, Hsu, and Kim are playing - and with the team trending upward - Texas is heading into the heart of the spring season with confidence and momentum.
As O’Keefe put it: “Finishing second in that field is something to be extremely proud of. We know what to work on moving forward and can’t wait to get after it in Florida.”