Razorbacks in contention

University of Arkansas sophomore Ela Anacona got off to a blistering start and had a hot finish Monday at the U.S. Women’s Amateur in Rockville, Md. The in-between part kept Anacona from being at the very top of the leaderboard at the 120th U.S. Amateur.

Anacona, playing in the morning group, was at 4-under through eight holes, had five bogeys in her next eight holes, then finished with back-to-back birdies for a 1-under 71 at Woodmont Country Club. She is tied for seventh place, three shots behind he co-leaders Rachel Kuehn and Riley Smyth at 4 under.

Anacona, of Argentina, led a contingent of five Razorbacks over the 6,561-yard course. She was the only Arkansas player whose round was not affected by a weather delay of 1 hour, 27 minutes late in the afternoon.

Arkansas junior Brooke Matthews of Rogers came out smoking from No. 10 with three consecutive birdies, but she gave back strokes at Nos. 15 and 17. Matthews birdied the par-3 6th to reach 2 under, but recorded a double bogey the next hole and had to settle for an even-par 72 and tie for 15th place.

Arkansas signee Cory Lopez of Mexico was 2 under through four holes before finishing at 2 over. Junior Julia Gregg could not find a birdie and wound up at 6-over 78. Sophomore Kajal Mistry had 2 birdies, 8 bogeys, 7 pars and a triple bogey that added up to a 9-over 81.

Defending cha m pion Gabriela Ruffels of the University of Southern California carded an even-par 72.

The field will be cut to 64 after the final round of stroke play today, and match play begins Wednesday.