RIO GRANDE, Puerto Rico — Morgan Ellison registered a 2-over-par scorecard to lead UTSA in the opening round of the Puerto Rico Classic, which teed off Sunday at Grand Reserve Golf Club (par 72/6,305 yards).
Ellison wrote down 16 pars en route to posting a 74, putting the senior from Georgia in a tie for 35th place. Starting her day on No. 15, she recorded three straight pars before settling for a bogey on the 533-yard, par-5 18th hole. She then reeled off eight pars in a row in advance of a bogey on the ninth before closing the round with five more pars.
Meanwhile, the Roadrunners are in a four-way tie for 15th place with Kent State, Minnesota and UNC Wilmington after turning in a 305 on Sunday. That group is five shots behind host Purdue in the 18-team field that is led by Vanderbilt (283).
Maria Bastarrica is one shot behind Ellison in a tie for 50th place after one round. The sophomore from Spain carded a 3-over 75 that featured a birdie on the 157-yard, par-3 sixth hole.
Olivia Williams, a junior from England, has a share of 73rd after registering a 77 that included a birdie on the 159-yard, par-3 eighth.
Lauren Rios, a native of Coppell, Texas, posted the other counting score for UTSA with a 79 to put her in a tie for 86th, while Daniela Abonce rounds out the lineup in 93rd (81).
Round two is scheduled for a 6:30 a.m. Central time shotgun start on Monday.
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