UNT Women’s Golf Kicks Off Season with Sam Golden Invitational
The UNT women’s golf team is gearing up to open their 2025-26 season by hosting the Sam Golden Invitational at Oakmont Country Club in Corinth. Thirteen schools from eight different conferences will compete, including teams from each of the power four leagues.
Head coach Michael Akers leads the Mean Green as they look to take advantage of their home turf and build on their strong showing in the 2023 Invitational. The event honors Sam Golden, a major supporter of the UNT program, and gives the team a big stage to show what they’ve got and pick up some experience.
The Legacy of the Sam Golden Invitational
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The Sam Golden Invitational has really become a signature event for UNT women’s golf. Since the start, it’s given college golfers a solid chance to display their skills.
In 2025, the tournament returns to Oakmont Country Club for the second year in a row. The par-72 course stretches over 6,343 yards.
Teams will play 36 holes on Monday and 18 on Tuesday, with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. CT on Monday and 8 a.m. CT on Tuesday. That early start always brings a bit of extra energy to the competition.
Honoring Sam Golden
Sam Golden, who graduated from UNT in 1974, has played a huge role in both the university’s athletic and academic scenes. He’s had a long career in finance, with positions at the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and as CEO of Alvarez & Marsal Financial Industry Advisory Services LLC.
In 2019, the G Brint Ryan College of Business inducted Golden into its Hall of Fame. His daughters, Jaclyn Golden Malone and Janna Golden Reed, also played for the Mean Green women’s golf team, leaving their own legacy at UNT.
UNT’s Performance and Records
The Mean Green made a statement in the 2023 Sam Golden Invitational. They finished second out of 12 teams, shooting an eye-popping 35-under par.
They shattered several program records:
- Best opening round 18-hole score: 278
- Best overall round 18-hole score: 270
- Best 54-hole total score: 829
Those numbers still stand. Junior Bouquet Subsomboon made her collegiate debut with an 8-under par finish, landing in 10th place.
Katharina Anglett also debuted, finishing five-under and grabbing the 19th spot. Not bad for a first showing, honestly.
Preparing for the 2025 Invitational
The 2025 Sam Golden Invitational is just around the corner, and the UNT women’s golf team is putting in the work. Coach Akers pointed out how hosting the event and knowing the Oakmont course gives them a real edge.
“All of our qualifying rounds have been at Oakmont so we are getting multiple looks at the course and determining the best course set-up for the event,” Akers said. The team’s been grinding through tough practice sessions, fine-tuning their strategies and swings.
Key Players to Watch
Mali Chanthapanya has looked especially sharp in practice. She’s known as one of the hardest workers on the squad.
The whole team will play in the event, so everyone gets a shot at some high-level competition. That kind of experience is hard to beat.
The Competition
This year’s field looks stacked, with seven programs ranked in last year’s top 100. Here’s who’s showing up:
- UNT
- Texas Tech
- Kansas State
- Missouri
- Louisville
- Nebraska
- Tulsa
- Texas State
- New Mexico State
- UTSA
- Middle Tennessee
- Tulane
- Central Arkansas
With so much talent, it’s bound to be a close and exciting tournament.
UNT’s Progress Under Coach Michael Akers
Coach Michael Akers took over in 2016 and has completely changed the direction of UNT women’s golf. The team’s ranking jumped from No. 201 in 2016 to regularly landing in the top 50 nationally.
The Mean Green have qualified for four NCAA Regionals in the last five years. That’s a pretty big leap and says a lot about the team’s dedication—and Akers’ leadership.
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Looking Ahead
After the Sam Golden Invitational, the Mean Green will head to Hutchinson, Kansas, for the OU Intercollegiate Presented by PDI on October 6. Another big chance to test themselves against tough competition, and who knows—maybe keep that momentum rolling.
State-of-the-Art Facilities
The UNT golf programs got a huge boost when Bruzzy’s UNT Golf Practice Facility opened in 2021. This $3 million facility sits right on campus and packs in some impressive tech.
You’ll find TrackMan, swing catalysts, indoor hitting bays, and a short-game area. There’s also a PuttView indoor putting green, which is honestly pretty cool if you’re into golf gadgets.
All these resources help the team prep and develop their skills. It’s clear they’ve got what they need to push for the top.
The 2025 Sam Golden Invitational is just around the corner, and the UNT women’s golf team looks ready to turn some heads. They’ve got a solid mix of veteran players and fresh faces, plus those top-notch facilities backing them up.
If you want to check out live scoring or see how it all shakes out, head over to Mean Green Sports.