by LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech golfer Gabby Barker (Shosone/Paiute) powered the Red Raiders through the lone round of the Dickson Invitational on Tuesday as the senior fired an even-par 72 at The Woodlands Country Club outside of Houston.
Barker sank four birdies, including three-straight as she entered the back nine, to lead Tech to a 12-over 300 card that placed the Red Raiders in a tie for 11th place. Barker ended the day in a tie for 14th individually, her third top-20 finish already this season.
Amy Taylor was just one stroke back of Barker in a tie for 21st place after she drained a pair of birdies over her first six holes. It was just the second collegiate tournament for Taylor, who joined head coach JoJo Robertson‘s program in the weeks leading up to the spring semester.
Tech’s other three scores came from the trio of Lauren Mason, Mami Yamamoto and Louisa Brunt. Mason was 5-over on her round while Yamamoto and Brunt both chipped in 6-over cards to complete Tech’s team total.
The Dickson Invitational was cut to just an 18-hole format after the opening two rounds of the tournament were rained out Monday due to thunderstorms in the Houston area.
Clemson won the event with a 5-under card as the Tigers were the only school in the 17-team field to shoot under par Tuesday. Purdue finished second at even-par, while Texas A&M was third at 2-over followed by Kent State in fourth at 4-over. Florida State and Houston rounded out the top five in a tie at 5-over.
The Red Raiders will return to tournament play in less than a week as Tech will take part in the Entrada Classic hosted by BYU. The two-day tournament begins Monday morning from the Entrada Golf Course in St. George, Utah.
