TROPHY CLUB, TEXAS – The Texas A&M-Kingsville women’s golf team fired an opening round 347 at the 2012 Firestone Lone Star Conference Championships hosted by the Trophy Club Country Club. The annual league event includes eight women’s teams.

Playing on the Whitworth Course, a par-72, 5864-yard layout under perfect weather conditions on Monday, the Javelinas had three players shoot 86 or better. Freshman Ashley Coy (Bastrop/Bastrop HS) led the way with an 82 and is tied for 23rd after the first round. Twin sisters Brandy and Ashley Rivera (McAllen/McAllen HS) carded rounds of 85 and 86, respectively. Betsy Haddock (Las Cruces, NM/Las Cruces HS) rounded out the scoring players for the team with a 94.

Tarleton State has a three-stroke advantage after the first round. With four players in the top-11, the TexAnns posted an 11-over 299. Jacqueline Lau paced Tarleton with a 1-over 73, with Sharon Lau (75), Katy Ward (75) and Sarah Fulfer (76).

Midwestern State is right on Tarleton’s heels, at 14-over 302. Kendra Whittley paced the Mustangs efforts with a strong back nine including the day’s only eagle on No. 16 to take the individual lead at one-under 71. Whittley made the turn at three-over before posting a four-under back nine with three birdies in addition to the eagle.

The No. 3-6 teams are separated by just three strokes, with Texas A&M-Commerce in third place (315), followed by Cameron and West Texas A&M tied for fourth (316) and Angelo State sixth (318).

Incarnate Word’s Flower Castillo finished at even-par 72 for second place.

The Javelinas tee off at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday in the final round of the tournament.
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