AMARILLO, Texas – The Colorado State University Pueblo women's golf team delivered an impressive second-round performance Monday afternoon at the West Texas A&M Invitational, bouncing back from a difficult opening round to finish the first 36 holes at 31-over-par at Tascosa Golf Club in Amarillo, Texas.
After opening the tournament with a 28-over-par 312 on the par-71 course, the ThunderWolves responded with an outstanding second-round score of just 3-over-par 287, shaving an incredible 25 strokes off their opening-round performance. The turnaround kept the Pack in the middle of the leaderboard with a 36-hole total of 599 heading into Tuesday's final round.
Leading the charge for the ThunderWolves was Lisa Ekberg, who turned in a sensational afternoon performance. After opening the tournament with a 6-over-par 77, Ekberg caught fire in the second round, firing a 4-under-par 67, including a remarkable 3-under-par 32 on her final nine holes. Her afternoon performance vaulted her into a tie for ninth place on the individual leaderboard at 2-over-par 144 through 36 holes.
Olivia Heard also enjoyed an impressive second-round turnaround for the Pack. Heard opened the tournament with a 7-over-par 78 before bouncing back with an even-par 71 in the afternoon, improving her score by seven strokes. She sits tied for 24th overall with a two-round total of 149, just five strokes behind Ekberg.
Yale Lee, who captured her first collegiate individual championship earlier this month at the Travis Roy Memorial, continued the ThunderWolves' strong afternoon showing. After opening with a 7-over-par 78, Lee rebounded with a 1-over-par 72 in the second round, including a 1-under-par 35 on her final nine holes. She sits tied for 27th at 8-over-par 150 heading into the final round.
Aoife Browne rounded out the Pack's four counting scores in the second round, improving by two strokes after opening with an 8-over-par 79. Browne carded a 6-over-par 77 in the afternoon and sits tied for 37th with a two-round total of 156.
Sinead Ni Cheilleachair also improved her score in the afternoon, following an opening-round 80 with a 7-over-par 78 in round two. She enters Tuesday's final round tied for 43rd at 16-over-par 158.
Sofia Contreras, competing as an individual for the ThunderWolves, opened the tournament with a 14-over-par 85 before carding an 18-over-par 89 in the afternoon. She sits in 57th place at 32-over-par 174.
The story of the afternoon was CSU Pueblo's remarkable turnaround, highlighted by Ekberg's 67, Heard's even-par 71 and Lee's 1-over-par 72. The trio combined to shoot just 3-under-par in the second round, helping the ThunderWolves record their impressive 287 and remain in contention to climb the team leaderboard during the final day of competition.
The ThunderWolves will return to Tascosa Golf Club on Tuesday, September 29, for the final 18 holes of the West Texas A&M Invitational.
