CARMEL, CALIFORNIA – UT Tyler women's golf is right in the thick of action after rounds of 293 and 299 on day one of the Patriot Invitational at Quail Lodge Golf Club on Monday.
 
The Patriots sit nine shots back of first round leaders DBU and are four clear of third place Tampa in another loaded field this week. The Patriots and DBU are the only two teams through 36 holes to break 300 in each round.
 
Leading that first day charge for the Patriots was senior Karina Duran, who is tied for the lead after 36 holes after shooting one over par for the day. Duran shot a two under par 69 in round one, making seven birdies in her effort. She would follow that up with a three over par 74 that included two more birdies to fall back into a tie for the lead.
 
Lucy Kate Smith, Emmerson Doyle, and Martha Laremark helped the scoring alongside Duran in round one. Smith shot a 72, making two birdies and 13 pars. Doyle followed with a 75 with a pair of birdies, and Laremark closed the team round with a 77 behind two birdies in her effort as the team shot 293.
 
Round two of the day saw Arnie Taguines rebound with a solid 74 to match Duran, while Smith and Doyle shot 75 and 76, respectively. Taguines made a pair of birdies and 11 pars in round two. Smith and Doyle combined for six total birdies, making three each, and 18 pars to push the Patriots to a second round 299.
 
Duran is tied for first, Smith is tied for eighth, and Doyle is tied for 16^th as the Patriots are one of four teams with a trio inside the top 16 and one of three with at least two inside the top eight.
 
UT Tyler leads the field in par three scoring at 3.16, and is also leading the field in total birdies with 25. Individually, Smith is leading the field in par three scoring, and Duran is leading in par four scoring. Duran is also leading in total birdies with nine through two rounds.