Women’s Golf Holds First-Day Lead at Riverbend Intercollegiate

SUGAR LAND, Texas – With five student-athletes among the Top-13 leaders, the University of Houston Women's Golf program stood in first place as a team following the first day at the Riverbend Intercollegiate at Riverbend Country Club on Monday.

Competing on the 6,148-yard, par-72 course, the Cougars opened the tournament with a score of 2-under 286 in the morning round and finished the first 36 holes with a total of 574 to hold a 20-shot lead over Abilene Christian.

Junior Moa Svedenskiold held the individual lead at 7-under 137 while junior Alexa Saldana stood in third at 139 and sophomore Maelynn Kim was in tied for 10^th at 146. Playing as individuals, junior Natalie Saint Germain was tied for fifth at 144 while sophomore Ellen Yates was tied for 13^th at 149.

After shooting a 70 in Monday's First Round, Svedenskiold drained five birdies in a bogey-free Second Round to take the individual lead. Starting off No. 2, she made par on her first six holes before sinking a birdie on the par-5 eighth hole.

The Halmstad, Sweden, native added back-to-back birdies on Nos. 11-12 and sank two more over her final four holes to build a one-stroke lead over Abilene Christian's Ryann Honea.

Saldana enjoyed a 68 in the First Round, thanks to flurries of birdies. The Mexico City native opened the day with back-to-back birdies at Nos. 1-2. Following a bogey at No. 5, she added consecutive birdies at Nos. 6-7 and drained another pair at Nos. 10-11.

Saint Germain was tied for fifth with New Mexico State's Angela Garvin and Tarleton State's Louise Depadt, thanks to a 70 in the afternoon. The Prague native quickly moved into red numbers with a birdie at No. 4 to start her afternoon round and added two more birdies.

Kim joined UT Arlington's Kamri Gabel in a tie for 10^th at 146 while Yates was tied with two others at 149. Junior Hyeonji Kang stood in 24^th at 151. Playing as individuals, freshman Annika Ishiyama was tied for 51^st at 158 while senior Brooke Morales was tied for 56^th at 160.

Odessa College was in third at 597 while UT Arlington and New Mexico State were tied for fourth at 598.

The Final Round tees off Tuesday morning.

LIVE SCORING
Fans can follow live scoring at the Riverbend Intercollegiate by clicking here.

TEE TIMES
Fans can find complete tee times and pairings by clicking here.

UP NEXT
Following Riverbend Intercollegiate, Houston returns to action when it competes at the Florida State Match Up at Seminole Legacy Golf Club in Tallahassee, Fla., on March 21-23.

From there, the Cougars close their regular-season schedule when they tee off at the Texas Showdown presented by VERITEX on April 7-8.

SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Women's Golf by supporting Linking Coogs – UH's NIL collective – and by joining the P.A.R. 4 Club, which provides financial support directly to Houston Women's Golf for needs beyond its operating budget.

STAY CONNECTED
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