UTC’s Kera Healey carded an opening round 72 in Mexico
photo by Guadalajara Country Club
The Chattanooga Mocs women’s golf team got the spring started the right way with an 8-over 296 in the Collegiate Invitational at Guadalajara. The Mocs found birdies early and often at Guadalajara Country Club. The Mocs are an impressive sixth through 27 holes against a strong field. The tourney resumes with a final 27 on the docket Saturday in Mexico.
“I really couldn’t be prouder of the way this group started,” UTC head coach Katie Woodruff said. “We knew we had to shake off a lot of (tournament) rust and preparation was difficult weather-wise leading into the event, but the team battled hard.”
Mocs Individuals:
T9) Kera Healey: 72-E=E
T9) Bella Bugg: 74-(-2)=E
T24) Makenzie Cooper: 73-+2=+3
T57) Rugile Pauliukonyte: 81-+2=+11
T61) Erin Wells: 77-+7=+12
Breakdown
The Mocs started off in the first pairing off hole No. 1 playing with TCU & Tulsa.
The opening round 296 is the fourth-lowest team score to open the spring in school history. It’s just the eighth time breaking the 300 plateau in the first card a New Year.
The 296 was the seventh best of the opening round finishing ahead of #38 Virginia (1 stroke), #43 Colorado (2), UTSA (3) #39 N.C. State (5) and BYU (7).
Healey was the low round with 72 edging Cooper (73) and Bugg (74). Wells added 77 to the total.
The third nine has the Mocs at 2 over at the midpoint. Bugg is 2 under with Healey at even with Cooper and Pauliukonyte with 2 over each.
The ladies recorded 15 birdies in round one, second-highest total of the season.
All four counting cards had three or more birdies in the opening round. That’s the first time in 125 rounds for that occurrence dating back to the final round of the 2021 Mason Rudolph Championships (4+ years).
Healey’s level-par 72 was her 15th career par or better card. She needs two more to move into the top 10 all-time at Chattanooga. 2016 SoCon Champion Megan Woods ’18 is 10th with 17.
Healey’s five birdies so far in Guadalajara gets her to 221 for her career. That’s just four shy of the top 10 in that list behind Cristina Perez ’18 with 225.
Leaderboard (Thru 27 Holes)
1) #19 Oklahoma State: 288-+1=+1
2) Tulsa: 284-+10=+6
tie) #38 Virginia: 297-(-3)=+6
tie) #28 Florida State: 292-+2=+6
5) #32 Houston: 293-+2=+7
6) Chattanooga: 296-+2=+10
7) Washington: 295-+4=+11
tie) #41 TCU: 293-+6=+11
9) UTSA: 299-+5=+16
tie) #43 Colorado: 298-+6-+16
11) BYU: 303-+4=+19
12) #39 N.C. State: 301-+7=+20
Next Up
The Mocs return to the 10th hole Saturday morning to finish off round two. The field will be re-paired for the final 18.
