BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Morgan Ellison is in the top 20 individuals and the UTSA women's golf team is in 10th place after the first day of the "Mo" Morial Invitational, which teed off on Tuesday at Traditions Club (par 72/6,406 yards).
Ellison has a share of 19th place at 1-over par after posting rounds of 70 and 75, as the Roadrunners posted a 294-295—589 on the 36-hole day. UTSA is 10 shots ahead of a tie for 11th between Charlotte and Kansas and only one stroke out of a deadlock for eighth between North Texas and Texas Tech.
Ellison opened the 54-hole event by firing a 2-under 70 that featured three birdies. The sophomore from Peachtree City, Georgia, had a birdie-three on the 356-yard fourth hole and a two on the 165-yard seventh en route to a 35 on the front before posting a birdie on No. 17 in a bogey-free back nine. She came back in the afternoon to log a 75 that was headlined by another birdie on No. 7.
Daniela Abonce and Olivia Williams are two shots back of their teammate in a tie for 26th at 3-over 147.
Abonce, a freshman from Veracruz, Mexico, made her collegiate debut with a 2-over 74 that was headlined by four birdies, including back-to-back on Nos. 10-11. She posted a one-shot improvement in the afternoon with a 1-over 73 that included two more birdies.
Williams, a freshman from Worcestershire, England, turned in a 74 in her first round as a Roadrunner on the strength of a pair of birdies that helped her card a 34 on the back nine. She circled her number on three holes in the second round in logging a 73.
Camryn Carreon is tied for 47th after registering a 77-74—151 and Lauren Rios has a share of 64th with a 76-79—155.
Texas leads the 14-team field at 14-under 562, followed by host Texas A&M (565), Florida (569), Miami (579) and North Carolina (580) in the top five.
Sophie Guo of Texas has a one-shot lead in the individual race after carding a 9-under 68-67—135.
The final round is slated for an 8 a.m. shotgun start on Wednesday.
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