University of North Texas
Marilynn Smith/Sunflower Invitational
Four Mean Green Golfers Inside Top 14 In Manhattan
9/17/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
MANHATTAN, Kansas - Senior Nyca Khaw led the way for the Mean Green during the first round of the Marilynn Smith/Sunflower Invitational at Colbert Hills Golf Club, firing a three-over-par 75. The Mean Green sit in a tie for third after day one, with four of their five players inside the top 14.
"We could have played better today, but we are still in position to win," head coach Michael Akers said. "We need to try and cut into Kansas State's lead tomorrow. The good news is we are seeing production from the entire lineup. Sol [Lee] and Sabina [Pena] have not played to their potential yet and when that happens, it will really propel the team to new heights."
Khaw posted the team's best round of the day Sunday, with her three-over 75. Khaw eagled 18, while parring 12 holes. The lone senior sits in a tie for 11th place after day one. Khaw opened play this weekend very positively, which is how she finished last week at the Minnesota Invite. Her final two rounds there were a 73 and 74 at Prestwick Golf Club in Woodbury, Minnesota.
A trio of Mean Green golfers sit just behind Khaw, in a tie for 14th place, at four-over. Junior Sol Lee and sophomores Lauren Cox and Elena Kim each finished with 76's on Sunday.
Lee birdied back-to-back holes (11 and 12) on just her second and third holes of the day to start strongly at -2, but then bogeyed five of her next six holes. She did close by parring eight of her last nine holes to finish the round and move into the top 15. Cox birdied 11 and was consistent for most of her round, save for a double bogey on 13, while Kim rebounded from a double of her own on 10 to start her day. She birdied twice, on the second and fourth holes to climb into the top 15 with her teammates.
The Mean Green return to action from Manhattan, Kansas, Monday morning and tee off starting at 8:50 a.m. CT. Fans can follow all the action live here, courtesy of Golfstat.
Team Leaderboard
1. Kansas State (-1)
2. Tulsa (+11)
3. North Texas (+15)
4. Arkansas State (+18)
5. Kansas (+19)
T-6. Rutgers (+21)
T-6. Little Rock (+21)
8. Georgia Southern (+22)
9. Central Arkansas (+28)
Player Leaderboard
T-11. Nyca Khaw (+3)
T-14. Sol Lee (+4)
T-14. Lauren Cox (+4)
T-14. Elena Kim (+4)
T-44. Sabina Pena (+10)
