Marin Leads Hogs on Day One of Blessings Collegiate Invitational

FAYETTEVILLE – No. 12 Arkansas women’s golf opened its home tournament, the Blessings Collegiate Invitational, with a 3-over-par 291 at Blessings Golf Club (Par 72).

The Hogs got off to a slow start in the morning and shot 6-over on the front nine before turning it around with a 4-under finish on the back nine.

Sophomore Sara Brentcheneff, making her BCI debut, led the Razorbacks at 2-under on the front and birdied three of her last four holes before making the turn. She played the par 3s particularly well, with birdies on Nos. 8 and 17.

Senior Maria Jose Marin, making her fourth BCI appearance, was 1-over after nine holes, with eight pars and one bogey on the par-3 eighth, and turned it on starting at No. 10 with five birdies in her first six holes.

Marin shot 3-under on the par 4s to lead the field.

Arkansas’ remaining starters finished over par. Sophomore Ebba Liljeberg, who played for Missouri at last year’s BCI, birdied her first hole but was 5-over going into the par-5 15th. She birdied following a strong approach and parred her remaining three holes.

Sophomore Swetha Sathish, playing in her first BCI as part of the lineup, carded a 77.

Senior Abbey Schutte’s 78 was dropped.

Freshman Melliyal Schmitt, making her Arkansas debut as an individual, got off to a strong start at 2-under through nine but suffered a triple bogey on the par-4 11th and a double bogey on the par-3 13th. Schmitt battled back with three birdies in her last five holes to finish even par.

Junior Natalie Blonien, playing as an individual, struggled early and was 5-over through nine. She finished strong with three birdies on the back to get to 3-over.

Alabama finished 8-under to take a 12-stroke lead headed into Sunday’s second round.

The Hogs will tee off on Sunday at 8:25 a.m. from the 10th tee. Blonien and Schmitt will tee off at 8:15 a.m.

The Razorbacks

2. Arkansas +3

T2. Maria Jose Marin -4
5. Sara Brentcheneff -2
T25. Ebba Liljeberg +4
T27. Swetha Sathish +5
T29. Abbey Schutte +6
T9. Melliyal Schmitt (Ind.) E
T18. Natalie Blonien (Ind.) +3

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