Lady'Backs third after first round action at the Betsy Rawls Invitational

Jump to agate FAYETTEVILLE — The University of Arkansas women’s golf team returned to the links with a solid opening round finishing third Friday at the Betsy Rawls Longhorn Invitational in Austin, Texas. Arkansas posted an opening round 309 playing the University of Texas Golf Course for the first time since it opened in 2003. The score was a bit higher than Arkansas head coach Kelley Hester would have liked but tough pin placement pushed all the scores higher leaving the Lady’Backs third after the first round. "The scores were again kinda high," acknowledged Hester. "The course isn’t bad but the hole locations are tough for the entire field. I don’t feel like we played as well as we were capable of and we’re still in pretty good shape. If we can improve just a bit and tighten things up we can make a move in the next couple of days." Arkansas, ranked 17th in this week’s GolfWeek.com poll, is just behind 61st-ranked Nebraska who opened play with a 14-over 302. Top-ranked Duke is second with a 307, followed by Arkansas, No. 8 Oklahoma State with a 310 and No. 21 Tulsa with a 311 rounding out the top five teams. No. 35 Texas A&M checked in sixth with a 312, No. 23 Texas was seventh with a 313, No. 7 Arizona State was eighth with a 315 and No. 73 Kansas State and No. 32 Baylor are tied for ninth overall with a 322. Redshirt freshman Stacy Lewis paced Arkansas finishing the first round with a plus-two 74 and is tied for fifth overall. The Woodlands, Texas, native was one-over through the first nine and picked up a second stroke at the mid-way point of the second nine holes. Lewis played her final three holes even on the day. El Dorado, Ark, junior Amanda McCurdy finished tied for 12th with a plus-four 76 after a slow start in which she was three back on the first nine holes. McCurdy recovered finishing one-under for the last six holes. "Stacy had it going for a while," said Hester, "but hit a speed bump and four-putted nine. She recovered nicely though and finished with a good round." "Amanda started slowly but really came on at the end as well," added Hester. Hot Springs, Ark, senior Gena Johnson turned in a solid 78 followed by senior Lina Axelsson who carded a nine-over 81. Axelsson has been absent from the Lady’Back lineup since an injury shortly after the holiday break last season. Junior Courtney Mahon rounded out Friday’s scores with an 82. Lindsey Hinshaw made the trip playing as an individual and finished with an 80. Arkansas, and the rest of the field, continue play Saturday and Sunday. For more information about Arkansas golf log on to LADYBACKS.COM.
2005 Betsy Rawls Longhorn InvitationalThe University of Texas Golf Club, Austin, TexasMarch 11-13, 2005Par 72, 6,323 yardsTeam Results

Top 10 Individual Results

Arkansas Individual Results