Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
UNLV Spring Invitational
Van Niekerk's 70 Leads Texas Tech
March 10, 2008 | Women's Golf
March 10, 2008
LUBBOCK, Texas - Apparently, finishing one 54-hole tournament and beginning another less than 24 hours later had little affect on the Texas Tech women's golf team as the Lady Raiders are tied in fourth place following the first round of the UNLV Spring Rebel Invitational at Boulder Creek Golf Club in Boulder City, Nevada. Tech finished second yesterday at the Rio Verde Collegiate Invitational in Arizona, before hopping a plane to Las Vegas last night.
As she did the first two rounds of the weekend event, Ulrika Van Niekerk paced the Lady Raiders, carding a 2-under 70. The Lady Raider junior struggled on the front nine, carding a 2-over 38 at the turn. Following her fourth bogey of the day at No. 11, van Niekerk scorched the final eight holes with five birdies and three pars. She is tied in sixth place, while Stephanie Smith, who finished among the top 20 with van Niekerk yesterday, is tied in 14th place after posting an even round of 72.
Megan Dowdy shot a 2-over 74 and is tied in 31st place, while Alex Gibson and Gloriana Soto checked in with rounds of 76 and 79. Gibson sits in a 45th-place tie and Soto is tied in 73rd place.
The field boasts three teams ranked among the nation's top 50 and Texas Tech is ahead of each one. Tournament host UNLV and Washington State turned in team totals under par as the Rebels fired a 4-under 284 and the Cougars a 3-under 285. San Francisco is third with a 291, while Oregon and Texas Tech are tied in fourth place with a pair of 292s. No. 35 BYU and No. 46 Washington are tied in sixth place after posting rounds of 293, while No. 45 Indiana (295), UC Davis (296), Campbell (297) and Idaho (297) round out the top 10.
Sacramento State (299), Fresno State (301), Colorado State (304), New Mexico State (305), Kansas State (311), Long Beach State (321) and Eastern Washington (322) complete the field of 18.
The second round of the three-day event gets underway Tuesday morning. For complete results, go to www.golfstat.com.
