PRESCOTT, Ariz. --- After 36 holes of play during the first day of the Embry-Riddle Co-Ed Invitational both the Biola men and women's golf teams sit within striking distance of the team leaders and 10 and nine strokes back respectively.
It was a beautiful day in Arizona with a slight breeze and weather in the mid-80s for both rounds at Talking Rock Golf Club. Two individual players took advantage of the wonderful weather to card fantastic rounds to lead the way for both Biola teams, which currently sit fourth on both sides.
Mychaela Graf continued to lead the women's squad with a combined score of 153 (+9). It was a second round 74 that helped her to overtake Trae Jones of the host school Embry-Riddle and get herself to the top of the individual leaderboard.
Kyle McAbee, also a freshman, had a fantastic two rounds for the men. He came out on fire with a first round 70 and followed it up with a 73 to finish day one at just 143 (+1) to sit in third place overall.
"I was very pleased with our steady play, and once again we had a freshman come through," said Men's Golf Head Coach
Hank Woodrome.
McAbee was followed by
William Langworthy who sits in a tie for eighth place and continues his strong start to the season with a 145 (+3). He also carded a 70 in the first round, which was Biola's lowest round score on the day.
Austin Bishop (+6),
Dominic Rodriguez (+7) and
Cameron Bauer (+13) rounded out Biola's five to compete on Sunday.
Following Graf on the women's side was fellow freshman
Mary Karnazes. Karnazes posted the lowest Biola score of the first round with a 78 and followed it up with an 83 to finish the day tie for ninth with a 161 (+17).
Sarah Paravia (+19),
Lauren Van Horn (+25) and
Amanda Hobbs (+38) round out Biola's five to compete.
The women ended the first day fourth of six with nine shots to make-up in the final round on Monday and the men finished fourth of seven 10 shots back.
The final round begins at 8:00 a.m. on Monday. The weather in Prescott is forecast to be partly cloudy and in the low-80s.
