by By Matt Dowdy, TexasTech.com
LUBBOCK, Texas – Gabby Barker (Shoshone-Paiute) led No. 23 Texas Tech through the first two rounds of the Briar’s Creek Invitational on Monday as the junior fired a pair of 2-under-par 70 cards at The Golf Club at Briar’s Creek in Johns Island, South Carolina.
Barker closed the day in a four-way tie for third overall to lead the Lady Raiders, who are in eighth place as a team after a 6-over 294 opening round and a 5-over card later in the afternoon. Tech closes the tournament with a final 18 holes on Tuesday morning.
“We let a couple shots get away in both rounds today,” Tech head coach JoJo Robertson said. “We have a chance to go out tomorrow and have a great day and see what happens.”
Barker enters the final round just three strokes back of first-day leaders Laura Fuenfstueck of host College of Charleston and Louisville’s Olivia Cason. She was one of five players in the 18-team field to fire an under-par card over both rounds Monday.
Barker was joined with an under-par day by Sofia Garcia, who was even over the first 18 holes before an 1-under card later in the day. Garcia, who is looking for her second top-20 finish already this season, is currently tied for 14th overall.
Cara Barker recorded Tech’s next-lowest opening day score as she was 4-over during both rounds to place in a tie for 58th individually. Mami Yamamoto is a stroke back of her in a tie for 64th after a 5-over card that was followed by a 4-over second round. Lauren Mason, meanwhile, is in a tie for 83rd overall following a 4-over opening round and then a 9-over card in the afternoon.
No. 5 Florida built a significant lead to sit atop the leaderboard as the Gators are 13-under for the tournament after shooting 11-under during the opening round alone. Campbell trails the Gators by 10 strokes in second place while Illinois sits in third at 1-over for the tournament.
Louisville and Miami round out the top five in a tie for fourth at 2-over, one stroke ahead of sixth-place Auburn and seven better than Michigan State in seventh place. Tech leads the trio of Boston College, Ohio State and East Carolina, who are all a stroke back of the Lady Raiders in a tie for ninth place.
Tuesday’s final round is slated for an 8 a.m. CT shotgun start as the Lady Raiders will be paired with Michigan State and Boston College over the final 18 holes. Live results will be available throughout the day at www.GolfStat.com.
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