Sept. 16, 2013
MINNEAPOLIS - San Diego State's Sirene Blair (South Jordan, Utah) fired a collective 6-over par 150 on Monday to lead the Aztec women's golf team during the first two rounds of the season-opening Minnesota Invitational at The Minikahda Club. The highly touted SDSU freshman posted scores of 73 and 77 in her first collegiate appearance to finish the day in a tie for fourth place on the par-72, 6,119-yard course layout.
As a team, the Aztecs find themselves in a tie for sixth with Georgia Regents (formerly Augusta State) at 42-over 618 after completing identical rounds of 309. With its total, SDSU remains three strokes in back of Texas State (+39) and Nebraska (+39) for fourth place, while Illinois (+27) occupies the top spot, followed by host Minnesota (+32) and Kent State (+32).
After completing a morning session highlighted by 10 straight pars and a birdie on her first 11 holes, Blair managed to ease the sting of two bogeys and a double bogey in the second round with back-to-back birdies on holes 8-9. With her effort, Blair ended the afternoon in the fourth position along with Illinois' Emily Joers, trailing leader Jennifer Ha of Kent State (+3) by just three shots heading into Tuesday's final round.
Meanwhile, Aztec sophomore Emma Henrikson (Malmö, Sweden) came on strong during the second round, carding a 73 to climb from the 37th spot into a tie for 13th at 9-over 153. The 2012-13 Mountain West Freshman of the Year sank five of her six birdies on the day during the afternoon to help overcome an uncharacteristic 80 over the first 18 holes.
Elsewhere, sophomore Shannon Lubar (Littleton, Colo.) made her SDSU debut on Monday, posting rounds of 75 and 80 to finish in a five-way tie for 21st at 8-over 155, while junior Paige Spiranac (Scottsdale, Ariz.) ended the day in the 44th position after shooting a combined 18-over 162 (83-79).
Rounding the Aztec starting five was senior Maureen Dunnagan (Lexington, S.C.), who landed in the 51st spot after firing a 20-over 164 on rounds of 81-83, while junior Kristina Lynn (Carlsbad, Calif.) also represented the Scarlet and Black as an individual competitor, finishing in a tie for 34th at 14-over 158 (77-81).
The Minnesota Invitational resumes on Tuesday with final-round action, as SDSU is scheduled to tee off with Nebraska and Kent State in a shotgun start, beginning at 9 a.m. CT.
Minnesota InvitationalDay One ResultsThe Minikahda ClubMinneapolis, Minn.Par 72, 6,119 yards
Team Scores (Top 5 + SDSU out of 12 schools)1. Illinois 300-303--603 (+27)T2. Minnesota 309-299--608 (+32)T2. Kent State 306-302--608 (+32)T4. Texas State 316-299--615 (+39)T4. Nebraska 303-312--615 (+39)-----T6. San Diego State 309-309--618 (+42)
Individual Leaders (Top 5 + SDSU out of 63 individuals)1. Jennifer Ha, Kent State 76-71--147 (+3)2. Stephanie Miller, Illinois 76-72--148 (+4)3. Ember Schuldt, Illinois 75-74--149 (+5)T4. Sirene Blair, SDSU 73-77--150 (+6)T4. Emily Joers, Illinois 72-78--150 (+6)-----T13. Emma Henrikson, SDSU 80-73--153 (+9)T21. Shannon Lubar, SDSU 75-80--155 (+11)T34. Kristina Lynn, SDSU* 77-81--158 (+14)T44. Paige Spiranac, SDSU 83-79--162 (+18)51. Maureen Dunnagan, SDSU 81-83--164 (+20)
*-competing as an individual