SAN MARCOS – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros women's golf team finished a combined seven-under over the last five holes of the first round as they sit in second place at the Southland Conference (SLC) Championship on Monday at Kissing Tree Golf Club.
The Vaqueros posted a first round 292 and sit just eight shots back of Houston Christian University, who posted a first round 284.
UTRGV has three inside the top-10 with sophomore
Miriam Barcalova leading the way in a tie for third. Sophomores
Pitchayapa Punpho and
Zoe Hobbs are tied for sixth. Junior
Natalia Rodriguez is just outside the top-10 in 12th place and junior
Preston Saiz is tied for 21st.
Barcalova is just three shots off the lead, held by Houston Christian's
Sara Pihlajamaki, after posting an even par 72. Barcalova opened with a birdie on the first hole but carded a front nine two-over 38 but started the back nine with four-straight pars before closing out the final five holes two-under to post a back nine two-under 34.
Pungpho turned in a one-over par 73 as she fought to turn her round around after a tough front nine where she closed it with four-straight bogeys for a 39. Pungpho rattled off five-straight pars to start her back nine before sinking birdie putts on hole 15 and 16 and then finished with back-to-back pars to post a two-under 34.
Hobbs also posted a first round one-over par as she carded a front nine 37 and then followed with an even par 36 on the back. Hobbs started with a double-bogey on the back, but she finished two-under over the last five holes. Hobbs sank a birdie after nearly chipping in on hole 17 and then drove the green on hole 18 with two-putt birdie to put the finishing touches on her first round.
Rodriguez posted a solid round of two-over par 74. Rodriguez started off strong as she carded a front nine 36 with seven pars, one birdie and one bogey before posting a back nine two-over 38.
Saiz turned in a first round 77 as she posted a front nine one-over 37 before a back nine 40. Saiz will look to carry momentum into the second round as she was six-over on the back before closing out with back-to-back birdies on holes 17 and 18.
The Vaqueros will be back on the course on Tuesday with the first groups of the second round teeing off at 12 p.m.
Results
Place |
Team |
Rd 1 |
Rd 2 |
Rd 3 |
Total |
| 1. |
Houston Christian |
284 |
- |
- |
284 |
| 2. |
UTRGV |
292 |
- |
- |
292 |
| 3. |
Incarnate Word |
300 |
- |
- |
300 |
| T-4. |
Lamar |
303 |
- |
- |
303 |
| T-4. |
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi |
303 |
- |
- |
303 |
| 6. |
East Texas A&M |
305 |
- |
- |
305 |
| 7. |
Stephen F. Austin |
316 |
- |
- |
316 |
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