DALLAS — Nikki Long is tied for 13th place after the first day of the Dallas Athletic Club/SMU Invitational to lead UTSA’s effort during the first two rounds, which were played on Friday at Dallas Athletic Club (6,345 yards/par 72).
Long opened the 54-hole tournament with an even-par 72 in the first round that was highlighted by five birdies, including a pair on par threes as part of three total birdies on the front nine. The freshman turned in a 76 in the afternoon on the strength of two more birdies to give her seven for the event. Long, a San Antonio Johnson High School product, sits in a four-way tie for 13th at 4-over 148 in the 84-player field, seven shots off the pace of 3-under 141 set by Aurora Kan of Purdue.
Behind Long’s performance, the Roadrunners carded a 321-313—634 and are in 15th, two shots ahead of Conference USA foe North Texas.
Aimee Ponte fought back from an 85 in her opening 18 with a 76 in the second round and the sophomore is tied for 65th (161).
Brogan Townend and Becky McGeehan are tied for 75th (84-80—164) and 77th (86-81—167), respectively, while Libby Thomas is 81st (80-89—169).
No. 14 Oklahoma State leads the field that features eight top-50 teams at 3-over 579. No. 24 UC Davis is in second (586), followed by No. 37 Purdue (592), 40th-ranked Texas Tech (594), Houston (602) and Kansas (602) in the top five.
The final round is slated for an 8 a.m. shotgun start on Saturday.