No. 1 Arkansas Women’s Golf Set For Blessings Collegiate Invitational
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – After winning their first event of the season, the No. 1 ranked Razorbacks return home to the Blessings, where they will look to defend their Blessings Collegiate Invitational title. The Hogs dominated the event the last time around, beating all 13 other Southeastern Conference teams on their home course in last season’s opening tournament. The event, which starts Monday, is open and free for the public. It will also be televised on the Golf Channel for those who can’t make it out.
Leading the top ranked Hogs back to action is the No. 1 ranked individual golfer in the nation, Brooke Matthews. Matthews is coming off arguably the greatest round of golf ever played at the collegiate level, as she won the Cougar Classic, shooting an absurd 25-under. The next closest player in the field, Krista Junkkari of North Carolina, finished the event at 12-under, 13 strokes behind Matthews. The No. 1 ranking is nothing new for Matthews, though – she was ranked No. 1 by Golfweek last year, earning that spot after her dominant performance at the Blessings Collegiate Invitational. Matthews, like the Razorbacks as a team, will be looking to defend her title starting Monday.
Following Matthews in the Hog lineup is Julia Gregg, who also had a career event at the Cougar Classic. Gregg had her best event in several different ways – she finished tied for sixth, the best finish of her career; she fired a 68 in the third round, the best single-round score of her career; and her 210 (-6) was the best 54-hole score of her career. The junior also had a good showing at the BCI last year, finishing tied for 18th.
Fellow junior Kajal Mistry will hold down the third spot in the lineup. Like Matthews and Gregg, Mistry started the season strong at the Cougar Classic. Mistry finished in the top-20, carding a 215 (-1) for the event. She also finished in the top-20 at last season’s BCI, placing tied for 18th.
Sophomore Cory Lopez will make her debut for the Hogs at the 2021 BCI, as she did not take part in the Cougar Classic. The SEC-All Freshman team member had a good BCI last season, though, finishing tied for 11th at the inaugural event.
Freshman Miriam Ayora holds down the final spot in the lineup for Head Coach Shauna Taylor’s Hogs. Though she didn’t take part in the 2020 BCI, she was part of the traveling five at the Cougar Classic. She finished tied for 79th.
Both senior Ximena Gonzalez and freshman Ffion Tynan will take part as individuals.
