Zachek Leads After Two; Lobos Tied for 2nd
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Senior Darian Zachek of The University of New Mexico women’s golf team capped an exciting first day of the 40th Annual Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational on Monday with an eagle on the 475-yard, par-5 18th hole at the UNM South Championship Course.
Zachek finished the day -7 and helped power the Lobos to second place after two rounds (573; -3) in a field of 16 teams, including 2018 NCAA Championship participants Kent State and Northwestern. She finished the first 18 holes carding a score of 70 on the par-72 course before registering a career-low 67 (-5) in round two.
Kent State finished day one -7 overall (569), followed by UNM and Northwestern, tied for second with 573 (-3). San Diego State is in fourth after two rounds (575; -3) followed by UC Davis (579; +3) to round out to the top five.
Zachek’s eagle is the only one so far in the tournament while she also posted nine birdies, tied for third in the tournament. She leads the Lobos with a score of 137 over two rounds, followed by the lone freshman to partake in the Lobo top five, Kamie Hamada, who went 70 and 72 through the first two rounds for a total of 142 (-2), tied for 10th.
Hamada posted seven birdies in her first day competing as a Lobo to get off to a strong start to her inaugural season.
Junior Reva Morris finished third for the Lobos (T21st overall) with a score of 145 (+1). She shot a 73 in round one but shaved off a stroke in the second round, carding a 72. Rounding out the team of five was senior Emma Edwards (150; +6) and Caroline Jansson (151; +7).
Competing for the Lobos as individuals were freshman Tiana Cruz who posted back-to-back rounds of 79 (158; +14) and redshirt-sophomore Zoey Akagi-Bustin (163; +19). Each individual also posted a pair of birdies on the day.
The Lobos will return to action on Tuesday, Sept. 11 for the third round of the tournament, looking to take the lead for their first win of the Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational since 2008. UNM has also not finished in the top five of the traditionally deep field since 2009.