The No. 5 Arkansas women’s golf team rebounded from a tough opening round to stay within eight shots of the lead after 36 holes at the Cougar Classic on Monday in Charleston, South Carolina.
The Razorbacks fired a 2-over in the first 18 holes at the Yeamans Hall Club golf course, then bounced back with a 3-under in the second round to move to 1-under for the tournament heading into Tuesday’s final 18 holes in the season-opening tournament.
Florida grabbed the first-round lead with a 1-under, then extended the margin over the second 18 holes at 8-under to end the first day at 9-under, 5 shots ahead of second-place Baylor. Arkansas and Tennessee are tied for third at 1-under.
Senior Maria Jose Marin finished at even-par 71 over the first 18 holes, but rebounded with 2-under 69 to pace the Razorbacks. Marin had 2 birdies on each side.
Missouri transfer Ebba Liljeberg got off to a rough start in the first round with a 7-over 78. Liljeberg steadied in the second round and shared team low-scoring honors with Marin with a 2-under 69, highlighted by an eagle at the par 4 No. 12. She needed that with back-to-back bogeys at Nos. 13 and 14.
Sara Brentcheneff is one shot behind Marin at 1-under after going low at 2-under 69 in the first round. Brentcheneff shot a 2-over in the second round with a tough run on the front side that included 3 bogeys at No. 4, No. 7 and No. 8.
Swetha Sathish had a solid first round at 1-over 72, but the wheels came off in the second round, finishing at 7-over that included a double-bogey at the par 4, No. 8 hole.
LSU is sitting fifth at even after going 7-over on the opening 18 holes, then 7-under in the second round.
The teams will play an 18-hole final round on Tuesday.
Chip Souza is the general manager of the WholeHogSports Network. He was previously the sports editor of the four daily newspapers that comprise Northwest Arkansas Newspapers. He has been a sportswriter for most of the past 26 years, earning numerous awards in Texas and Arkansas. As sports editor of The Morning News of Northwest Arkansas the sports section earned six national Associated Press Sports Editors awards, including Top 10 Daily, Top 10 Sunday and Top 10 Special Section in its circulation category.