THACKERVILLE, Okla. — Second-year Alyson Thomas carded a collegiate career-best 3-over par 75 on Monday, leading the Harding women's golf team during the second round of the WinStar Invitational at WinStar Golf Club's Scissortail Course.
Harding posted a team score of 21-over 309 in the second round, a two-stroke improvement over its opening round. With a two-day total of 44-over 620 (311-309), the Lady Bisons sit in eighth place heading into Tuesday's final 18 holes, three strokes behind seventh-place Angelo State (617).
Host Dallas Baptist University took commanding control of the tournament Monday. DBU fired a blistering 11-under 277—the lowest team round of the tournament—to surge into first place at 9-under 567, opening a 24-stroke lead over second-place St. Mary's (Texas) (+15). West Texas A&M sits in third at 16-over, followed by Midwestern State (+22), Missouri-St. Louis (+25), and first-round leader Southeastern Oklahoma State (+27).
Thomas delivered a standout bounce-back performance for the Lady Bisons in Monday's round. After matching her previous collegiate low of 81 in Sunday's opener, the second-year shaved six strokes off her card to shoot a 75—surpassing the 81 she had posted as her best across six previous collegiate rounds. Her effort vaulted her eight spots up the leaderboard into a tie for 37th at 12-over 156.
Fourth-year Sydney Kincade remains Harding's top player on the individual leaderboard. After carding a 73 on Sunday, Kincade shot a 7-over 79 on Monday and is tied for 24th at 8-over 152.
Fourth-year Cooper Meyer turned in another steady effort, posting a 5-over 77 to sit in a tie for 27th place at 9-over 153. Meyer has tallied seven birdies through the first two rounds, tied for sixth-most in the field.
Second-year Vivian Volion carded a 6-over 78 to sit tied for 43rd at 15-over 159, while 1st-year Audrey Kuntz showed improvement with a 7-over 79 to sit tied for 48th at 18-over 162. Third-year Sidney Gainor withdrew during Sunday's opening round.
As a team, Harding excelled on the par 3s, sharing the tournament lead in par-3 scoring at 7-over (3.17 stroke average) alongside West Texas A&M.
Players once again contended with grueling late-summer weather in Thackerville, competing under a regional heat advisory with sunny skies and afternoon temperatures approaching 100°F. The field scoring average rose slightly to 76.67 in round two.
DBU's Madison Ude leads the individual competition at 6-under par 138 (69-69), holding a three-stroke advantage over Southeastern Oklahoma State's Emma Thompson (-3).
The final round of the 54-hole event will take place Tuesday morning.
