ARLINGTON, Texas – The Western Athletic Conference announced its women's golf awards Friday, naming a pair of UT Arlington players as all-conference selections. Tarini Bhoga is an All-WAC First Team selection while Nitisha Manikandesh made the All-WAC Second Team. It is the first time either player has made either all-conference team.

Bhoga emerged as a steady presence in the UTA lineup, playing in every tournament the Mavericks competed in. Bhoga also had the best scoring average on the team at 74.6 and completed five rounds under par over the course of the season.

The Frisco-native finished in the top 10 of three tournaments: The Jayhawk Invitational, the Red Raider Invitational and the 2026 WAC Women's Golf Championship. 

The sophomore also carded the best round of the season for any Maverick — A 5-under 67 in the final round of the Diamante Intercollegiate at the Diamante Country Club in Hot Springs Village, Arkansas. 

Manikandesh posted the best scoring average of her career at 74.79. The senior competed in all but two tournaments, finishing with four rounds below par during the season. 

The Plano-native heated up in the spring, finishing in the top 10 during three of the six tournaments she competed in. That included the WAC Championship where her fourth-place finish was her best of the year. 

The senior also had the best 54-hole tournament score of her career at the ULM Invitational, shooting rounds of 71-74-72 for a 1-over-par 217. All told, Manikandesh was the top UTA performer — tied or individually — at four of the final five tournaments she competed in.

2025-26 WAC Women's Golf Season Awards

WAC Player of the Year
Louise Depadt, Tarleton State

WAC Freshman of the Year
Shuyi Cao, California Baptist

WAC Co-Coach of the Year
Rob Bennett, Abilene Christian
Isabel Jimenez, Tarleton State

All-WAC First Team
Ryann Honea, Sr., Abilene Christian
Maddi Kamas, Gr., Abilene Christian
Lou Deltombe, Sr., Tarleton State
Louise Depadt, Jr., Tarleton State
Tarini Bhoga, So., UT Arlington

All-WAC Second Team
Jiyu Han, Jr., Abilene Christian
Shuyi Cao, Fr., California Baptist
Samantha Dizon, Sr., California Baptist
Pusanisa Ekkantrong, Jr., California Baptist
Nitisha Manikandesh, Sr., UT Arlington
Chloe Jang, Jr., Utah Valley FOLLOW ALONG
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