BRYAN — Led by a trio of players in the top 15, the UTSA women’s golf team is in fifth place after the first round of The “Mo”Morial held Monday at Traditions Club (par 72/6,206 yards).
The Roadrunners carded an 11-over-par 299 behind a 73 from Nikki Long, a 74 by Abby Portyrata and a 75 from Becky McGeehan. UTSA is one shot behind No. 32 Kentucky (298), three back of No. 31 Florida State (296) and four shy of Houston (295). No. 28 Auburn leads the 11-team field after firing a 3-over 291. No. 27 Texas A&M and TCU are tied for sixth (303), followed by Stephen F. Austin (305), Troy (310), Louisiana-Monroe (314) and Tulsa (315).
Long, a freshman from San Antonio Johnson High School, recorded a pair of birdies in her collegiate debut and is tied for 11th in the 65-player field, four shots off the 3-under pace set by Kayla Jones of Florida State.
Portyrata also wrote down two birdies in her first UTSA event en route to a 74 and the freshman from North Chesterfield, Va., native is tied for 13th. McGeehan, a freshman from Gutersloh, Germany, is one shot behind Portyrata in a tie for 15th after turning in a 75 that was highlighted by three birdies.
Brogan Townend, a junior from Blackburn, England, provided the fourth score for the Birds with a 77 and she is tied for 33rd with 36 holes remaining.
Aimee Ponte, competing as an individual, is tied for 47th (79) and Libby Thomas is in 55th (82).
Round two is slated for Tuesday with tee times beginning at 8 a.m.