Around the Green

Mina Hardin Leads Women’s Stroke Play Championship

Briefly: Mina Hardin of Fort Worth leads the Women’s Stroke Play Championship after an opening round 2-over-par 74. She leads the Championship Division by one shot going into Friday’s second round. Olive Henry of Ennis leads the Flights Division by two shots following her 7-over 79.

Leaderboard:
1) Mina Hardin                   Fort Worth         74
T2) Hailey Jones                 Dallas                  75
T2) Zoe Paige Slaughter    Houston              75
T4) Jennie Park                   Carrollton          76
T4) Nicole Vivier                 Austin                 76
T4) Serena Shah                 Carrollton           76
T4) Madison Freeman       Spring                 76

Round 1 Results | Round 2 Pairings

Golf Course: Nestled in the tall pines of East Texas, Crown Colony Country Club originally opened for play in 1979. The beautiful and challenging layout located in Lufkin is a Robert von Hagge and Bruce Devlin design that has been rated by Golfweek as one of the top destination golf courses in Texas. The 18-hole championship golf course has played host to eight TGA Major Championships (the 1982 and 1988 Texas Amateur, 1989 and 2007 Women’s Texas Amateur, 1994 Texas Mid-Amateur, 1983 Texas Senior Amateur and the 2012 and 2017 Texas Four-Ball). Now, it adds the Women’s Stroke Play Championship to its decorated history. Round 1 was contested at 6,114 yards for the Championship Division.

Weather: The temperature reached 95 degrees with steady winds at 9 mph out of the southwest.

In Contention: Hardin, the first LPGA Tour player from Mexico, carded five birdies for her tournament-leading 74. Her ability to get up and down from around the green was the key to her success during Thursday’s round.

“I made a bunch of birdies which was very fortunate,” Hardin said. “Overall, I am very pleased with my round and you know just come out and have another good day and be thankful for everything I can do.”

Hailey Jones of Dallas and Zoe Paige Slaughter of Houston are tied second at 3-over-par and one shot off the lead. Jennie Park of Carrollton, Nicole Vivier of Austin, Serena Shah of Carrollton and Madison Freeman of Spring are tied fourth at 4-over-par. Three players in the Championship Division are tied eighth at 5-over-par and three shots off the lead.

In the Flights Division, Rosalinda Adams of Spring carded a 9-over 81 and sits two shots off the lead. Karen Northcutt of The Woodlands sits solo third after a 11-over 83. Nancy Beck of Dallas and Lee Ann Riley of Dallas are tied fourth at 12-over-par.

What’s Next: Round 2 starts Friday at 8:00 a.m. off No. 1 tee at Crown Colony Country Club.

More Info: For more information on the 2020 Women’s Stroke Play Championship, click here.