Texas Tech University Athletics
Garcia Sinks Hole-In-One to Lead Lady Raiders in Houston
September 11, 2017 | Women's Golf
Sofia Garcia combined to shoot 5-under over 36 holes Monday to lead the 19th-ranked Lady Raiders
LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech sophomore Sofia Garcia capitalized on her first collegiate ace Monday afternoon to fire a career low 5-under 66 second round that paced the Lady Raiders over the first 36 holes of the Jim West Challenge held at The Club at Carlton Woods in The Woodlands.
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Garcia, who fired an even-par 71 opening round earlier in the morning, sank her tee shot at the par-3 16th – her fourth hole of the second round – en route to one of her best performances of her still young Tech career.
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Garcia had three birdies and an ace over the first five holes of the second round before proceeding with nine-consecutive pars. She closed the afternoon in a tie for sixth individually, still seven strokes back of Duke's Leona Maguire, who fired a 67 and then a 63 to take a commanding first-day lead.
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As a team, Tech enters Tuesday's final round in third place following a 5-under 279 opening round and a 4-under 280 card in the afternoon. The Lady Raiders are three strokes back of second place Oklahoma and 17 swings behind first-day leader Duke.
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"I'm really proud of this team for their play today," Tech head coach JoJo Robertson said. "It was a good start for the first round of the year. I'm really excited for this group."
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Like Garcia, junior Mami Yamamoto also had a career day as she fired a 4-under 67 to start the tournament. It matched the lowest 18-hole score of her career as Yamamoto signed for an even-par round later in the afternoon to wrap the day in sole possession of 10th individually.
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Gabby Barker, likewise, finished under-par over the first two rounds as she was 1-under in the morning before shooting one shot higher later in the day. Barker, who won the Jim West Challenge in 2015, closed the day in a tie for 16th overall, three strokes back of Yamamoto and four behind Garcia.
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Emma Ballard signed Tech's final score of the opening round with an even-par card that was the lowest of her Tech career. Ballard, who had previously fired a 73 four times over her career, followed with a 1-over round to close the day in a tie for 22nd overall.
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Lauren Mason also ranks among the top 30 individual after shooting 3-over over the two rounds. She is in a tie for 27th individually, while freshman Louisa Brunt, playing as an individual, is tied for 54th overall at 9-over.
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Tech enters Tuesday's final round with a nine-stroke advantage over fourth place Kent State and 12 strokes in front of Texas A&M. The final round begins with an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start with live scoring provided on Golfstat.com.
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Garcia, who fired an even-par 71 opening round earlier in the morning, sank her tee shot at the par-3 16th – her fourth hole of the second round – en route to one of her best performances of her still young Tech career.
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Garcia had three birdies and an ace over the first five holes of the second round before proceeding with nine-consecutive pars. She closed the afternoon in a tie for sixth individually, still seven strokes back of Duke's Leona Maguire, who fired a 67 and then a 63 to take a commanding first-day lead.
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As a team, Tech enters Tuesday's final round in third place following a 5-under 279 opening round and a 4-under 280 card in the afternoon. The Lady Raiders are three strokes back of second place Oklahoma and 17 swings behind first-day leader Duke.
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"I'm really proud of this team for their play today," Tech head coach JoJo Robertson said. "It was a good start for the first round of the year. I'm really excited for this group."
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Like Garcia, junior Mami Yamamoto also had a career day as she fired a 4-under 67 to start the tournament. It matched the lowest 18-hole score of her career as Yamamoto signed for an even-par round later in the afternoon to wrap the day in sole possession of 10th individually.
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Gabby Barker, likewise, finished under-par over the first two rounds as she was 1-under in the morning before shooting one shot higher later in the day. Barker, who won the Jim West Challenge in 2015, closed the day in a tie for 16th overall, three strokes back of Yamamoto and four behind Garcia.
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Emma Ballard signed Tech's final score of the opening round with an even-par card that was the lowest of her Tech career. Ballard, who had previously fired a 73 four times over her career, followed with a 1-over round to close the day in a tie for 22nd overall.
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Lauren Mason also ranks among the top 30 individual after shooting 3-over over the two rounds. She is in a tie for 27th individually, while freshman Louisa Brunt, playing as an individual, is tied for 54th overall at 9-over.
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Tech enters Tuesday's final round with a nine-stroke advantage over fourth place Kent State and 12 strokes in front of Texas A&M. The final round begins with an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start with live scoring provided on Golfstat.com.
Â??: Here's Sofia Garcia' signed scorecard from today with her hole-in-one at the 16th. #WreckEm pic.twitter.com/Lwy8pIvWeI
— Texas Tech W Golf (@TexasTechWGolf) September 12, 2017
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
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