March 29, 2024

Freshman Sydney Youngblood (Choctaw) made a solid start to her collegiate career; Sooners Tied for 7th at New Mexico Invite

NORMAN – The University of Oklahoma women’s golf team started off the season with a 494 (-1) through one and a half rounds at the Branch Law Firm Dick McGuire Invitational in Albuquerque, N.M. The tournament, which was suspended in the middle of the second round, is being played at the par-72, 6,317-yard University Course.

The Sooners ended the day in seventh place and will resume the second round, which was suspended with OU through 12 holes, at 8:30 a.m. CT Tuesday with round three immediately following. No. 9-ranked Oklahoma State tops the leaderboard at 476 (-12). No. 2 Arizona State is in second place (468;-10) and Baylor sits in third at 472 (-8).

Eighth-year OU head coach Veronique Drouin-Luttrell said it was exciting to see her squad off to a solid start to the season.

“We played solid all day,” Drouin-Luttrell said. “I’m really proud of the girls and how we were able to keep it going as the conditions got tougher through the day. On a 36-hole day, it’s all about how strong you are mentally, and the girls did a great job of staying focused.”

Hannah Wood paced the Sooners on the opening day, firing a 72 (E) in the first round. The junior posted a -2 through 12 holes in the final round of the day. Wood is in a share of 12th place at 119 (-2) in the tournament.

Sophomore Julienne Soo started off hot, carding a 71 (-1) in the tournament’s opening round, marking her career-best (previous was 74;+2). Soo followed the first frame logging a 1 over through 12 in the second round, giving her a share of 24th place at 121 (E).

Junior Ana Ruiz is in a tie for 41st place with a 131 (+2) through 32 holes. Ruiz struggled in the first round, shooting a 77 (+5), but responded in the second round as she sits at 3 under through 14 holes.

Freshman Sydney Youngblood (Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma)  made a solid start to her collegiate career and is tied for 50th place at 132 (+3) through 32 holes. Youngblood fired a 73 (+1) in her first round and followed with a +2 through 14 holes of the second frame.

Valerie Tanguay is also tied for 50th (+3). The junior opened the tournament with a 74 (+2) in the opening round. She currently sits at 1 over through 13 holes in the tournament’s second round.