Black, Budnik lead charge at UTRGV
3/7/2016 10:59:00 PM | Women's Golf
Sam Houston State's Sarah Black and Nicole Budnik lead play for the women's golf program, finishing the opening round at the UTRGV Invitational from McAllen Country Club in ties for ninth and 12th respectively.
The Bearkats are tied with Stephen F. Austin in sixth at 48-over, 332. Southland Conference member Lamar is the current leader at 26-over, 310, followed by Houston Baptist (31-over, 315), Wichita State (33-over, 317), A&M-Corpus Christi (42-over, 326) and UT Rio Grande Valley (45-over, 329).
At 8-over, 79, Black is just three strokes back of leaders Taylor Stockton (Lamar) and Kaity Cummings (Houston Baptist), who sit tied at 5-over, 76. Black is currently in a three-way tie, while Budnik, who is just one back at 9-over, 80, is also locked in a three-way tie.
Sam Houston's Heather Shake is positioned well at 12-over, 83, in a six-way deadlock for 27th while Jenna Phillips is sits in 50th (19-over, 90). Tuesday's second round shotgun start begins at 8:30 a.m. with Black starting on No. 10, Budnik on 11, Shake on 12 and Celeste Lo/Jenna Phillips starting on 13.
The three-day tournament concludes on Wednesday. Sam Houston captured first in the spring opener, Feb. 14-15 at Texas State, before taking fourth two weeks ago at A&M-Corpus Christi's Islander Classic. The Bearkats are seeking their fifth top five finish in its eight in 2015-16.
