No. 10/12 Women’s Golf tied for ninth after first round at the Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge

PALOS VERDES ESTATES, Calif. — The No. 10/12 Texas Women’s Golf team carded a 13-over-par 297 on Sunday to stand in a tie for ninth place after the opening round of the Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge at the Palos Verdes Golf Club. Senior Sara Kouskova, junior Sophie Guo and sophomore Bentley Cotton each fired a three-over-par 74 and find themselves in a tie for 29th place in the individual standings.

 

In addition to the Longhorns (No. 12 in the first Mizuno WGCA Coaches Poll of the spring season, released on Feb. 25), the 16-team Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge field includes: No. 3 Oregon, No. 4 Wake Forest, No. 6 Virginia, No. 11 Arizona State, No. 14 USC, No. 17 Auburn, No. 20 Baylor, No. 21 Duke, No. 22 Arizona, Cal, Georgetown, Kent State, host Ohio State, Pepperdine and Vanderbilt. Ten of the 16 teams participating are currently ranked among the nation’s top-25.

Kent State is the round one team leader after shooting a two-over-par 286. They currently hold a one-stroke cushion over No. 3 Oregon and No. 6 Virginia who are at three-over-par 287. 

Wake Forest’s Rachel Kuehn leads the individual field at four-under-par 67 and owns a one-stroke advantage over Arizona’s Carolina Melgrati and Auburn’s Julie McCarthy at three-under-par 68. Riley Smyth of Virginia trails right behind with a two-under-par 69.

The Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge continues with 18 holes each on Monday, March 14th and Tuesday, March 15th. Texas will be paired with Auburn, Ohio State and Pepperdine for Monday’s second round. Tee times will begin at 11 a.m. CT/9 a.m. PT from hole 1.

The Lineup

• Senior Sara Kouskova, junior Sophie Guo and sophomore Bentley Cotton each shot a three-over-par 74 and are tied for 29th place in the individual standings. Kouskova registered back-to-back birdies (No. 7, par-5; No. 8, par-3) during the opening round, while Guo also recorded back-to-back birdies (No. 4, par-3; No. 5, par-5). Cotton posted two birdies of her own (No. 16, par-5; No. 9-par 4) during the first day.

• Freshman Bohyun Park finished closely behind with a four-over-par 75 and is tied for 36th in the individual standings. Park registered three birdies (No. 11, par-4; No. 18, par-4; No. 5 par-5) on the day.

• Graduate Brigitte Thibault fired an eight-over-par 79 to put her in a tie for 72nd place. Thibault recorded one birdie (No. 18, par-4) during the opening round.