LITCHFIELD PARK, Ariz. — UTSA is in sixth place after the first round of the Clover Cup, which teed off Monday at Wigwam Resort’s Blue Course (par 70/5,860 yards).
Keyed by 1-over-par scorecards from Morgan Ellison and Lauren Rios, the Roadrunners registered a 288 to claim sole possession of sixth, six shots behind No. 43 Clemson and host Notre Dame and five strokes ahead of Colorado State in the 12-team field.
Ellison and Rios each carded a 71 in the opening round, while Olivia Williams and Daniela Abonce provided the other two counting scores with a 72 and 74, respectively.
Ellison bounced back from a double bogey and bogey during her first seven holes with three birdies in a row, writing down a three on the 400-yard eighth, a two on the 149-yard ninth and a four on the 492-yard 10th. The senior from Georgia also added birdies on the 374-yard, par-4 16th and the 514-yard, par-5 18th holes to earn a share of 14th place in the individual race with two rounds remaining.
Rios also has a share of 14th thanks to a 4-under 31 on the back nine today. The Coppell, Texas, native settled for a 40 on the front but caught fire on the second nine with five birdies. She circled her number on Nos. 10-11 and then logged a three on the 294-yard 14th and on the 374-yard 16th before countering a bogey on No. 17 with a four on the 18th.
Williams turned in a 72 on the strength of four birdies, including on three of her opening six holes. The junior from England added a birdie on No. 14 and is in a tie for 22nd at 2-over par.
Abonce is tied for 31st after posting a 4-over-par scorecard that featured four birdies, including back-to-back on Nos. 5-6. The junior from Mexico added birdies on the 10th and 12th holes during her opening round.
Maria Bastarrica rounds out the UTSA lineup in a tie for 36th. The sophomore from Spain recorded three birdies, including two in a row on Nos. 14-15, en route to a 75.
No. 8 Arizona State sits atop the team standings after posting a 6-under 274, followed by 16th-ranked Texas A&M (-2) and Indiana (E).
There is a three-way tie for the individual lead between Arizona State’s Beth Coulter, Texas A&M’s Kynadie Adams and Indiana’s Maddie May, who all registered a 3-under 67.
Round two is set for Tuesday and the Roadrunners will tee off beginning at 11:16 a.m. CT.
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