No. 25 Women’s Golf Back in Action
FAYETTEVILLE – The No. 25 Arkansas women’s golf team is primed and ready to commence the 2023 spring season this weekend. Arkansas is set to play at the Moon Golf Invitational in Melbourne, Florida, starting Sunday, Feb. 19 and carrying on to Tuesday, Feb. 21. Sunday and Monday’s shotgun start is set for 7 a.m. CT, and Tuesday’s is at 8 a.m. CT.
The tournament, played at the Suntree Country Club and hosted by Louisville, features 16 different teams, 13 of which are in the top 50 in the most current Golfstat rankings. No. 25 Arkansas is joined by No. 8 Florida State, No. 9 LSU, No. 16 Auburn, No. 17 Vanderbilt and No. 22 UCF as the field’s six top 25 squads.
Freshman Meagan Royal will be leading off the Razorbacks in the No. 1 spot. She played in two tournaments as an individual, logging a career-low round 70 at the Battle at the Beach Tournament in Mexico. Royal holds a 74.80 stroke average in five rounds.
Senior Ela Anacona follows at No. 2, having played at the Carmel Cup to start fall play, where she finished with an 8-over 224 (73-77-74) to finish in 22nd. In four years, Anacona is consistent with a career 74.67 stroke average across 71 rounds.
Veteran Kajal Mistry is in the No. 3 spot, coming off playing in all 12 rounds in the fall. Her best showing in the fall was at the Jackson T. Stephens Cup, where she finished 1-over 217 (71-74-72) to tie for 18th. She is coming off All-SEC First Team and WGCA All-American Honorable Mention recognition last season.
Miriam Ayora led the team in the fall with a 72.67 stroke average. She finished the Jackson T. Stephens Cup in a tie for eighth with a 3-under 213 (73-71-69), while leading the Razorbacks in three of the four tournaments. She is the No. 48 player in the country, according to Golfstat.
Giovanna Fernandez rounds out the lineup at No. 5. She played at the Blessings Collegiate and Jackson T. Cup, finishing with a 10-over 226 in both tournaments. She carded a career-low 69 in the second round at the Stephens Cup. Ffion Tynan will play in Florida as an individual. She played at the Battle of the Beach, where she finished with a five-over 218 and a career-low 69 in the second round.
The Razorbacks finished the fall slate at the Battle at the Beach in Cabo, Mexico last October, finishing with an 11-over 863 (291-287-285) for seventh place out of 17 teams.
ARKANSAS LINEUP
1. Meghan Royal
2. Ela Anacona
3. Kajal Mistry
4. Miriam Ayora
5. Giovanna Fernandez
Ind. Ffion Tynan
COMPETING TEAMS (GOLFSTAT RANKINGS)
- Arkansas (25)
- Alabama (41)
- Auburn (16)
- Augusta (164)
- UCF (22)
- Clemson (38)
- Florida (28)
- Florida State (8)
- Louisville (65)
- LSU (9)
- Miami (57)
- Michigan (32)
- Michigan State (43)
- North Carolina (45)
- Northwestern (27)
- Vanderbilt (17)
- Virginia Tech (63)
TEE TIMES (CT)
Sunday, Feb. 19 – 7 a.m. CT
Monday, Feb. 20 – 7 a.m. CT
Tuesday, Feb. 21 – 8 a.m. CT
COURSE
Suntree Golf Club – Melbourne, Fla. – Par 72 – 6,400 yards
LIVE SCORING
TOURNAMENT NOTES
The Razorbacks play at the Moon Golf Invitational for the third straight year, fourth overall. Arkansas finished in ninth out of 15 teams last year.
UP NEXT
The Razorbacks will have a quick turnaround, as the team travels to Hilton Head, South Carolina to play at the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate. Coverage of the tournament will be broadcast on the Golf Channel.
MORE INFORMATION
Keep up with all of the latest news and information and get behind the scenes looks into our program on our social media accounts. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @RazorbackWGolf and check out our Facebook page “Razorback Women’s Golf.” Stats, news and player information can be found at ArkansasRazorbacks.com.
