BROOKSVILLE, Fla. — Daniela Abonce posted an even-par scorecard to pace UTSA in the second round of the American Athletic Conference Championship on Tuesday at Southern Hills Plantation Club (par 72/6,289 yards).
Abonce’s 72 helped the Roadrunners register their second straight 298, keeping them in seventh place in the team standings with a 596, six shots ahead of Wichita State and eight in front of South Florida. UTSA is only five strokes out of the top five in a congested team race led by Tulsa (569).
Teeing off from No. 10, Abonce was steady through the first 11 holes with 10 pars and one bogey. The defending conference champion then reeled off birdies on three of the next five holes, writing down a two on the 171-yard third, a four on the 492-yard fifth and a four on the 476-yard seventh to help her chart a 1-under 35 on the front side of the course.
Abonce’s 72 marked a six-shot improvement from her opening round and moved her into a tie for 24th at 6-over 150 with 18 holes left to play on Wednesday. It also was the seventh par-or-better scorecard of her junior campaign and 32nd of her UTSA career.
Meanwhile, Lauren Rios continues to pace the Roadrunners at 1 -over 145 for the week, good for a share of ninth place. After posting a 1-under 71 on Monday, the Coppell, Texas, native turned in a 74 on Tuesday on the strength of birdies on the 154-yard, par-3 eighth and the 498-yard, par-5 16th holes. She now has a team-high eight birdies this week, as she sits just three shots out of the top five individuals.
Morgan Ellison is in a four-way deadlock for 16th place at 4-over 148. One day after recording a 73, the senior from Peachtree City, Georgia, carded a 75 that featured a birdie on the 342-yard, par-4 second hole.
Olivia Williams and Maria Bastarrica round out the UTSA lineup in 41st (78-77—155) and 44th (76-81—157), respectively.
The final round is slated for Wednesday and the Roadrunners will tee off from No. 10 starting at 7:50 a.m. Central time. ESPN+ will provide live coverage of the round beginning at 10:30 a.m. CT. John Liddle, Lauren Withrow and Maria Trivelpiece will call the action.
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