PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — Battling nearly three hours of weather delays, the UTSA women's golf team is in a tie for fifth place after the opening day of the Conference USA Championship, which teed off Thursday at PGA National Resort's Champion Course (par 72, 6,102 yards).
The Roadrunners were one of three teams that did not finish the first round of the 54-hole tournament, as delays that added up to two hours and 45 minutes left five groups on the course once darkness set in for the evening. Those threesomes will resume round one at 7 a.m. CT Friday followed by the second round later in the day.
UTSA's lineup of five players — along with North Texas and WKU — officially played between 14 and 17 holes. The Roadrunners currently sit at 17-over-par, good for a share of fifth with Charlotte, which completed round one with a 305. UTSA is only two shots out of a third-place tie between FIU and Middle Tennessee, who also both finished their first round with 303s.
Daniela Abonce currently has sole possession of 14th place in the individual standings, as the freshman from Mexico is 3-over par through 15 holes. She bounced back immediately from a bogey on No. 1 with a birdie on the 361-yard, par-4 second hole. She will pick up her opening round on No. 16 just one stroke out of the top 10.
Morgan Ellison also has made it through 15 holes and is only one shot behind her teammate. The sophomore from Georgia wrote down birdies on the 495-yard, par-5 third and 355-yard, par-4 14th holes and currently is tied for 15th at 4-over par.
Hunter Nugent and Camryn Carreon are part of a tie for 17th at 5-over par. Nugent, a senior from Canada, only has one hole left to play and has seen her opening round highlighted by a birdie on the 360-yard, par-4 ninth. Carreon, a senior from San Antonio, posted back-to-back birdies on Nos. 3-4 and has four more opportunities left to circle more numbers in the first round.
Olivia Williams has cleared 16 holes and is tied for 35th (+9).
No. 35 North Texas leads the team race at 4-under par, while WKU is two shots back in second place behind co-leaders Kenlie Barrett and Catie Craig (-3).
The Roadrunners will be paired with the Mean Green and Hilltoppers for round two after the opening 18 holes are completed.
-UTSA-
