Record Round Propels Golf to Lead in Austin

AUSTIN, Texas – Freshman Daniela Darquea fired a career-low 67 and helped propel the Miami Hurricanes to a program-record 276 to take a commanding five-stroke lead Sunday at the Betsy Rawls Longhorn Invitational.

Miami’s first-round 276 shattered the previous 18-hole program record of 281 set at the 1987 Beacon Woods Invitational. It is the Hurricanes’ lowest 18-hole total in the ACC era by 10 strokes, besting Miami’s 286 earlier this month at the Challenge at Onion Creek.

After one round, the Hurricanes are five strokes ahead of second-place UCLA (7-under 281). Arizona State is third at 5-under 283, while SMU and Mississippi State are tied for fourth at 4-under 284.

Four of Miami’s five golfers posted sub-par first rounds Sunday. As team, Miami shot 5-under on Par 3s and 8-under on Par 4s, while carding a tournament-best 20 birdies.

Darquea’s career-low 67 is the second-lowest 18-hole score in program history behind only Gina Hall’s third round 66 at the 1985 Hudson Industries Invitational. She is tied for first overall with Mississippi State’s Jessica Peng. The co-leaders own a two-stroke advantage over eight golfers tied at 3-under 69.

The Quito, Ecuador, native, who led the field by shooting 5-under on Par 4s, posted the seventh round of 67 in program history and the first since Maria Ronderos at the JUM Eagle Landing Invitational in March 2011.

Freshman Delfina Acosta and sophomore Kailey Walsh are tied for third overall at 3-under 69, trailing their teammate by two strokes. Walsh shot 3-under on the Par 3s, while Acosta shot 4-under on the Par 4s.

Junior Rika Park is tied for 22nd at 1-under 71; junior Leticia Ras-Anderica is tied for 51st at 3-over 75.

The second round at the 40th Betsy Rawls Longhorn Invitational continues Monday. Live scoring will be available at www.birdiefire.com. For the latest information, follow the Miami Hurricanes women’s golf team on Twitter, @HurricanesGolf.