NORMAN –
Savannah Barber and
Mikhaela Fortuna each fired a 4-under 66 and the Oklahoma women's golf team is in second after the first round of the Schooner Fall Classic Saturday at Belmar Golf Club.
In total, four Sooners finished under par with the duo of Barber and Fortuna anchoring the team. OU finished the opening round 12-under 268 and are one stroke behind leader Florida State.
"We had a great day and I am proud of our players for working hard the last few weeks and seeing it pay off on day one is rewarding," said Oklahoma head women's golf coach
Veronique Drouin-Luttrell. "We have a lot of golf left in this tournament and we need to keep the same mindset tomorrow."
Fortuna burst out of the gates and drained three birdies after an opening hole bogey. She finished the front nine 2-under 34 and added a pair of birdies on the back nine.
Barber drained a birdie on her opening hole and added another on the par-4 fourth hole. She dropped back to even after back-to-back bogeys and responded with a birdie on the seventh. Barber rattled off three consecutive birdies starting on the 15th hole.
Fortuna and Barber are tied for fifth.
Maria Fernanda Martinez and
Meagan Winans each finished with a 2-under 68 and are tied for 15th.
Martinez registered two birdies on the front nine and gave back her only stroke of the day with a bogey on the ninth. She dropped a birdie on the 15th to move to 2-under and recorded three straight pars to end her round.
Winans drained four birdies through her first seven holes, including back-to-back on the third and fourth holes. A double-bogey moved her back to 2-under 34 on the front nine. She responded with a pair of birdies in the first four holes of the back nine and moved back to 4-under. Winans finished 1-over through the last five holes and even on the back nine.
Raychel Nelke rounded out the Oklahoma lineup and finished 1-over 71. She finished the front nine 1-under 35 and tallied birdies on the fourth and ninth holes. After dropping a pair of strokes on the 11th, she responded with a birdie on the 12th. Nelke moved back to even on the 15th hole and finished the back nine 2-over 36.
Four additional Sooners competed as individuals in the field.
Madison Smith led the Sooner individuals and finished even-par 70. Smith tallied three birdies, including a birdie on 18 to move back to even. She is tied for 38th.
Kaylee Vesely finished 1-over 71 and recorded birdies on the 13th and 15th holes. She finished the back nine 1-under 33 and is tied for 48th.
Gracie Mayo finished 5-over 75 (T77th) and
Nina Lang was 6-over 76 (80th).
UP NEXT
The Sooners continue their efforts at the Schooner Fall Classic Sunday, Sept. 25 and will tee off at 10:40 a.m. off the first hole.