#9 Razorbacks Battle Tough Conditions on Day One at Betsy Rawls Invitational

AUSTIN, Texas – An unseasonably frigid and windy day at the UT Golf Club in Austin, Texas, brought carnage to the 16 teams competing on the 36-hole day at the Betsy Rawls Invitational.

Players averaged a score of 84.14 (12.14 over par) with temperatures in the 30s and winds blowing consistently over 15 miles per hour for the first 18 holes. No. 9 Arkansas was no exception, with a season-high 316 (+28) in the first round.

The seventh-ranked Longhorns sat in first at 16-over after 18 holes, a 12-shot lead over the Hogs. The Razorbacks edged out Oklahoma by one stroke to claim second place on the leaderboard.

LSU’s Elsa Svensson was the closest of the 90 players to par at 2-over in the morning.

The average score lowered to 78.77 in the afternoon round despite winds still blowing over 15 miles per hour. The Razorbacks turned in two rounds under par: Sara Brentcheneff (71), Abbey Schutte (70). Schutte had the shot of the day with an eagle on the par-5 eleventh hole. The duo was part of the group of five golfers to shoot under par for the entire day.

Arkansas improved its team score by 24 strokes with a 4-over 292, the second-lowest of the second round behind hosts Texas.

Four Razorbacks sit in the top 25 headed into Tuesday’s final round: Brentcheneff (T5, +6), Maria José Marin (T9, +8), Schutte (T17, +10) and Reagan Zibilski (T24, +13). Freshman Swetha Sathish is just outside at T28 (+14). Arkansas individual competitor, sophomore Natalie Blonien, shot a pair of 76s and is tied with José Marin at ninth.

As a team, the Hogs will start Tuesday 15 shots behind the Longhorns and five shots ahead of third-place LSU.

For more information on Arkansas women’s golf, follow @RazorbackWGolf on social media.