Texas women’s golf returns to Austin for Betsy Rawls Invitational after Darius Rucker victory

March 16, 2026

Texas women’s golf will host the two-day Betsy Rawls Invitational at the University of Texas Golf Club beginning Monday, returning to Austin after capturing the Darius Rucker Collegiate title two weeks ago. That win marked the Longhorns’ first tournament victory of the season and their first since the same event a year earlier.

Head coach Laura Ianello highlighted the team’s ability to protect a lead under pressure, noting the players stayed composed and steady throughout the Darius Rucker event. She pointed to the way the squad built on a strong opening round and maintained its position on the leaderboard as evidence of progress.

Despite the triumph, Ianello said the team left the previous tournament with clear areas to sharpen, including pace on the greens, fairway accuracy, and mental poise. She emphasized that the program focuses on daily improvement and expects every player to work on the small details that add up in competition.

The Betsy Rawls Invitational serves as Texas’ annual home tournament and draws several top collegiate programs to a course the Longhorns know well. Named for Texas golf legend Betsy Rawls, the event offers a familiarity advantage because of local course knowledge and experience with the greens.

Ianello acknowledged that familiarity can be a double-edged sword, creating a risk of lax preparation when players feel comfortable on a course. She told the team to rehearse tournament routines in practice and said she reminded players on Sunday to avoid shortcuts, stressing that practice habits should mirror what they will do during competition.

Texas plans to use the same lineup that won the Darius Rucker Collegiate as it defends its home tournament standing. With momentum and expectations high, the Longhorns will try to replicate the preparation and focus that led to their recent victory if they hope to match last year’s first-place finish.