Wildcats Card Low Scores As Darkness Halts Second Round

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Darkness shortened the first day of the Marilynn Smith Sunflower Invitational after Arizona Women's Golf completed 33 of the day's 36 scheduled holes. The Wildcats finished Monday in fourth place at 26-over par courtesy of a 14-stroke improvement in the second round. Senior Gile Bite Starkute led Arizona with a score of 2-over par with four holes left in her second round, which put her in a tie for fourth place.

"It's unfortunate that we were not able to finish our second round because we were in a groove when play was halted," said head coach Laura Ianello. "We were much sharper in the afternoon, and I look forward to seeing our lineup pick up where we left off. If our play on Tuesday is as good as it was Monday afternoon than I am confident we will move up the leaderboard."

After an opening round of 20-over par, the Wildcats turned it on after the turn in the second round. Arizona sank eight birdies in six holes on the back nine. The streaks of red on the Arizona scorecard were highlighted by sophomore Lilas Pinthier who was four under on the back nine with three holes remaining in the second round.

Starkute opened Monday with an even par round of 72 as one of seven players in the field to shoot par or better in the morning round. She is joined by Pithier (tied for 12th) and sophomore Carolina Melgrati (tied for 18th) in the top 20 of the individual leaderboard.

The Wildcats will resume their second round on Tuesday morning in fourth place just one stroke behind Nebraska and trail Sam Houston State by six strokes. Kent State sits atop the leaderboard at the conclusion of play on Monday at 7-over par.