Melbourne, Fla. – Freshman Haruhi Nakatani is in sixth place in the individual standings, and the No. 26 ranked Florida State women’s golf team is in sixth place in the team standings after the first round of the Moon Invitational at the Suntree Country Club. Nakatani carded a 1 under par score of 71 and is just two strokes out of the individual lead with two rounds remaining to be played. The Seminoles are within two strokes of fifth place and well within striking distance of the Texas A&M who finished as the only team under par during the first 18 holes of play.

The Seminoles are the defending champion in the event and looking to become the first team to win the championship three time in the history of the championship. The second round is scheduled for Tuesday and the final round on Wednesday. Head coach Amy Bond has led the Seminoles to eight team championships in its last 13 tournaments since winning the Landfall Tradition during the fall of 2024.

Izzy Pellott of Mississippi State is the first round individual leader with a 3 under par score of 69. She carded five first-round birides and holds a one stroke lead over four players who carded scores of 2 under par 70. Sky Sudberry and Vanessa Borovilos are the leading golfers for Texas A&M. Sudbery and Borovilos are tied for second in the individual standings.

“We did a great job of committing to our shots despite the windy conditions,” said Bond. “The winds gusted between 25 and 30 miles per hour throughout the day and we adjusted well to the changing conditions. We expect the conditions to change during each day of the event which will provide a great test during the next two days for our team.”

Nakatani led the Seminoles with four birdies and a score of 71. She began the round red-hot as she birdied her first two holes and closed well with birdies on two of her final holes. Nakatani totaled 16  of her 18 holes at par or better and was never more than one stroke over par during the round.

Nakatani was 2 under par with two birdies and all nine holes scored at par on her back nine. She is one of only eight players in the 90-player field who finished with an under par score in the first round.

Sophomore Sophia Fullbrook, the No. 45 ranked player in the nation, is in a tie for 29th place in the individual standings with a two over par score of 74. She played 16 of her 18 holes at par or better and closed the round with a birdie on hole No. 18 to finish within two strokes of par.

A pair of Seminoles – Alexandra Gazzoli and Elin Pudas Remler—are tied for 40th place in the individual standings with identical scores of 3 over par 75. Sophomore Layla Pedrique is in a tie for 50th place, while sophomore Freya Russell, who is playing as an individual, in in a tie for 16th place in the individual standings. Russell carded a 1 over par score of 73.

Florida State will play with Wake Forest and Florida in Monday’s second round as they continue to play for its second tournament championship of the spring season.

Ninth Annual Moon Invitational/Par 72

Suntree Country Club/Melbourne, Fla./Feb. 15-17, 2026

6/17.-Forida State, 295

T6.-Haruhi Nakatani, 71

T29.Sophia Fullbrook, 74

T40.-Alexandra Gazzoli, 75

T40,-Elin Pudas Remler, 75

51.-Layla Pedrique, 76

T16.-Freya Russell, 73*

*playing as an individual

Ninth Annual Moon Invitational/Par 72

Suntree Country Club/Melbourne, Fla./Feb. 15-17, 2026

1.-Texas A&M, 285

2.-Auburn, 292

T3.-Florida, 293

T3.-Wake Forest, 293

T3.-Texas, 293

6.-Florida State 295

7.-Mississippi State, 297

8.-Duke, 298

9.-Tennessee, 299

T10.-Ole Mis, 300

T10.-Alabama, 300

T10.-South Carolina, 300

13.-UCF, 301

T14.-Louisville, 302

T14.-LSU, 302

16.-NC State, 306

17.-Virginia, 310