Uriell And Lewis Find Birdies On Front Nine
**Update: Final first round results for the Razorbacks:
T5 Stacy Lewis 66 (-5)
T19 Gaby Lopez 68 (-3)
T71 Alana Uriell 71 (E)
T88 Emily Tubert 72 (+1)
T142 Regina Plasencia 80 (+9)
ROGERS, Ark. – Four birdies on the second nine helped University of Arkansas rising senior Alana Uriell to an even-par 71 in first round action Friday at the Walmart NW Arkansas LPGA Championship at Pinnacle Country Club.
Uriell, playing on a sponsor’s exemption, had a morning tee-time starting on No. 10 and was two-over after the first nine holes. Former Razorback Stacy Lewis was in the group behind Uriell and she turned 1-under. The duo got off the course in the first wave of players before the afternoon tee times. Former Razorbacks Emily Tubert, Regina Plasencia and Gabriela Lopez all started their rounds but were delayed by weather.
“I think I came alive a little bit faster this year,” Uriell said. “I still had a lot of jitters on the first nine holes. It’s just kind of getting used to the environment here.”
Uriell posted bogeys on No. 12 and No. 16 after a missed putt and a chip shot that didn’t roll on the green. She finished with back-to-back par holes on No. 17 and No. 18 before beginning her front side rally.
The Carlsbad, California, native birdied Nos. 1, 2, 5 and 7 but added a double bogey on No. 3 to inflate her score. The first low number came after a great second shot off the first tee. Uriell was a bit wide of the fairway and between two trees but she punched it out with a 6-iron up to the green. The ball hit the flag pole and settled about a foot away for the birdie.
She followed up with a birdie on the next hole. After hitting her tee shot to 80 yards, she got her second shot to check up on the green and she drained the putt for a birdie. Uriell had some trouble on the par-3 third hole overshooting the green counting a five to move to 2-over for the round.
Uriell regrouped for a par on No. 4 and picked up the third birdie on No. 5, draining an 18-foot putt that broke right to left. Her final birdie was made possible by a great second shot that moved Uriell back to even for the round. Uriell came off the golf course tied for 61st with the second flight of scores still to come.
Lewis also found her mojo on the second (front) nine in the first round to finish with a 5-under 66 and in a tie for fourth with half the field still on the course.
The Woodlands, Texas, native got out of the gates with a birdie on No. 10 after getting great back spin on the ball to get it close to the pin. She hit good shots on Nos. 11 and 12 but bogeyed the fourth hole of her round after missing a putt. Despite the flat start, Lewis recovered with three consecutive birdies on 18, 1 and 2 and added two more on the 14th and 17th holes of her round.
“I feel great,” Lewis said after her round. “Making the turn, I was not happy with the way things were going. You know, really, that was probably the best nine holes (her front nine) I’ve played on this course. I’m pretty excited about the way I finished there and I was excited to see some putts fall.”
Uriell and Lewis are scheduled with afternoon tee times in round two on Saturday, something that could change due to the weather. Be sure to check LPGA.com for complete scores and standings later today.
