LAS VEGAS — Battling tough playing conditions on Monday, UTSA is in ninth place after the first two rounds of the Lady Luck Invitational at Las Vegas Country Club (par 72/6,529 yards).
Facing windy conditions on firm and fast course, the Roadrunners registered rounds of 309 and 302 for a 36-hole total of 611, which places them ahead of five teams in the loaded field that includes seven nationally ranked squads. UTSA is three shots ahead of New Mexico, five in front of Texas State, nine better than BYU and 10 ahead of No. 44 Texas Tech and Nevada. The Roadrunners trail No. 18 Baylor by only two strokes and No. 28 Oklahoma State by five.
Individually, Lauren Rios is the top Roadrunner, as the Coppell native is tied for 30th. She bounced back from a 79 in the first round with a 74 in the afternoon that featured three birdies, all on the front nine.
Daniela Abonce and Victoria Schuldt are one shot behind Rios in a tie for 36th. Abonce, a senior from Mexico, carded a 76 in round one followed by a 78 in the afternoon, logging a pair of birdies on the day. Schuldt, a freshman from Germany, countered an 81 in the morning with the team’s best round of the day, a 73 that included a trio of birdies on the back.
Kayla Black has a share of 40th (78-77—155) and Maria Bastarrica is 44th (76-80) to round out the UTSA lineup.
No. 16 UCF leads the team race at 8-over par, followed by 30th-ranked Kent State (+12) and No. 33 Houston (+18).
UNLV’s Foong Zi Yu has the individual lead at 4-under 140 (70-70).
The final round is scheduled for Tuesday.
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