Perales Powers Push as Lady Chaps “Chip Away” at Leaderboard

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FORT SMITH, Ark. (March 23, 2026) – Lubbock Christian University sits firmly in contention entering Tuesday’s final round of the Hardscrabble Invitational, posting rounds of 309 and 310 for a 36-hole total of 619 (+59) Monday at Hardscrabble Country Club.
 
The Lady Chaps closed the opening day in fifth place in a tightly packed leaderboard, trailing leader Arkansas Tech (603, +43) by 16 strokes and sitting just four shots back of third-place Henderson State (615, +55) in a field featuring four nationally ranked programs.
 
LCU was led by a pair of top-10 performances from seniors Anaya Perales and Ali Escamilla, who are tied for 10th individually at 153 (+13). Perales produced one of the best rounds of the afternoon, rebounding from an opening-round 81 with an even-par 72 to surge up the leaderboard. She recorded a tournament-high seven birdies on the day. Escamilla provided steady consistency across both rounds, carding a 76 and 77. She ranks among the tournament leaders with 24 pars and added key stability to LCU’s lineup throughout the day.
 
Freshman Abby Archunde sits tied for 24th at 157 (+17), opening with a 76 before posting an 81 in the second round. Nadalie Cannell, another freshman, is tied for 29th at 160 (+20) after matching Archunde’s opening 76, while junior Hailey Hays rounds out the team scoring in 41st at 163 (+23). Freshman Kilee Ivy competed as an individual.
 
As a team, LCU showed balance across the scorecard. The Lady Chaps tied for second in the field on par-3 scoring (3.36, +18) and ranked third in total birdies (15), while also finishing tied for fourth in pars (86). Perales and Escamilla both contributed to LCU’s success on the par-5s, where the team ranked sixth overall.
 
LCU opened the tournament with a 309 (+29) in the morning round, paced by three scores of 76 from Archunde, Cannell and Escamilla. The Lady Chaps followed with a 310 (+30) in the afternoon, highlighted by Perales’ even-par round—the lowest by an LCU golfer on the day.
 
Arkansas Tech holds the team lead at 603 (+43), followed closely by No. 24 Midwestern State (604, +44). Henderson State (+55) and host Arkansas-Fort Smith (+58) round out the top four just ahead of LCU, setting up a tightly contested final round.
 
With multiple teams separated by just a handful of strokes, the Lady Chaps remain within striking distance heading into Tuesday’s final round, where they will look to build off Perales’ momentum and a consistent team effort to climb the leaderboard.