By COURTLIN HAYGARTH | HSU Sports Network

DENTON, Texas — In a field that features 10 teams inside the Top-25 in the Women’s Golf Coaches Association Poll, the No. 13 Henderson State women’s golf program currently sits in a tie for second after 36 holes at the Dallas Baptist Women’s Classic with an even-par 576, six strokes ahead of fourth-place No. 12/15 Tampa.

After the first 18 holes, HSU was tied for first with No. 2/4 Lynn, carding a 3-under 285, including a 4-under 68 from Gracen Blount, which tied the second lowest Par 72 single round in program history. 

Blount paces the Reddies after the first day of play, posting a 36-hole score of 3-under 141 for a spot at fifth place in the 85-player field. The Hot Springs, Arkansas native recorded five birdies and one eagle on the day compared to just four bogeys.

Allie Bianchi came up just behind Blount in eighth place after carding a 1-under 143, including a team-high 2-under 70 during the second round. The Lovejoy High School product started off the second 18-hole stint red hot, shooting three straight birdies on her first three holes before shooting 1-over the rest of the way.

Tied with Bianchi was true freshman Lily Nelson, who carded a 2-over 74 after a 3-under 69 opening round to sit at 1-under 143. Nelson matched Blount as the only two Reddies to pen an eagle, with the freshman from Commerce City, Colorado’s coming on the par 4, 264-yard hole 4. 

Jinna Boonbumroongsuk and Daphney Tilton rounded out the HSU golfers on day one, finishing in a tie for 44th and 58th with a 5-over 149 and a 7-over 151, respectively.

The third and final round will begin at 8:30 a.m. CT from the Par 72, 6152-yard Wildhorse Golf Course in Denton, Texas.