SEC GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS

Arkansas women jump out to hot start, men open slow at SECs

Arkansas golfer Alana Uriell hits from the third tee box on Monday, June 20, 2016, during the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship qualifying round at Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers.

University of Arkansas, Fayetteville junior Alana Uriell birdied the 18th hole and is tied for the lead after Friday's first round of the SEC Women's Golf Championship at Greystone Golf and Country Club in Birmingham, Ala.

The 13th-ranked Razorbacks shot a 283 and are in second place, one shot behind No. 20 Texas A&M, with two rounds remaining.

The Arkansas men's team fell behind early in the SEC Championship and finished the opening 36 holes in 12th place at 31-over-par at Sea Island Golf Club at St. Simons Island, Ga.

No. 15 Texas A&M leads the men's field at 5 under, while No. 3 Vanderbilt is two strokes behind in second place.

Uriell posted a 4-under-68, her second-lowest round of the season. She played the first nine holes at even par, putting together a string of birdies on the 9th, 10th and 11th holes. She added another on the 14th and finished with a 30-foot uphill birdie putt on 18 to finish off the round.

The Carlsbad, Calif., native is tied for individual medalist honors with South Carolina's Katelyn Dambaugh and Vanderbilt's Alexandra Farnsworth.

The Razorbacks are at 5 under, a stroke ahead of third-place No. 8 Florida and seven ahead of No. 11 South Carolina.

"Getting off to a good start today sets a foundation for the rest of the tournament." Arkansas Coach Shauna Estes-Taylor said. "You gotta get the roots down and then continue to do what our preparation has given us. It's been a little bit of a theme this week to 'hit it in the box' and that means to hit it in a place where you have some space to make something happen. Then you take what it gives you from there."

Sophomore Cara Gorlei and senior Summar Roachell finished tied for 12th place after shooting 1-under 71s while sophomores Maria Fassi and Kaylee Benton are tied for 27th overall with 1-over 73s.

"I saw so many great shots today," Estes-Taylor said. "I saw Kaylee make a 50-footer on five. Maria hit it to 2 feet for eagle on No. 11. Summar almost made a hole-in-one on eight. Cara made an unbelievable 15-footer for par on 14 and Alana's 30-footer on 18 for birdie was amazing.

On the men's side, No. 6 Florida is 2 under in third place, No. 7 LSU is 2 over and Alabama and Missouri are tied for fifth at 3 over. The top eight teams in the field following today's third round will advance to match play.

Freshman Mason Overstreet leads Arkansas after his even-par 70 in the afternoon left him tied for 32nd at 4-over par. He made the turn in his second round at 1 under, before shooting 1 over on the back side.

Sophomore Charles Kim shot 3 under on the back nine and finished the day tied for 50th overall at 149 (+9). Dylan Naidoo is tied for 58th at 11 over, Luis Garza is tied for 60th at 12 over and Alvaro Ortiz rounded out the team at 13 over and tied for 62nd overall.

The final round of stroke play begins this morning.

Sports on 04/22/2017