Strong start

Matthews, UA women in first place at Blessings tournament.

JOHNSON — Both University of Arkansas golf teams are off to fast starts in their first home tournament of the fall, notably the women’s team that sits atop the leaderboard thanks in large part to a record-breaking round by junior Brooke Matthews.

All 14 SEC men’s and women’s golf teams are competing in the Blessings Collegiate Invitational at Blessings Golf Club. The Golf Channel is also carrying all three days of competition live.

The tournament is the first on the 2020 fall schedule for the Razorbacks because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The men return to the links for the first time since March 3 when the Hogs competed in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The women are back on the course for the first time since March 8 when they competed in the Darius Rucker Invitational in Hilton Head, S.C.

Matthews, the former Rogers standout, was the star for the Razorbacks on Monday as she posted a 5-under 67, tying LSU’s Ingrid Lindblad after one round.

Matthews’ scorecard set the record for best singleround score at The Blessings in program history, surpassing former Razorback

Maria Fassi’s 68 in the spring of 2019.

The 67 was also Matthews personal- best round in her college career.

“I got off to a little bit of a tough start but stayed steady, stayed patient, had some putts go in,” Matthews said. “I knew I was hitting it well. I felt good about it.”

Matthews has been on a tear since the spring season ended in March.

“I definitely gained some confidence [ this summer],” Matthews said. “I saw some really

good things going with my game. I had about a month to work on some things I needed to improve on.”

The co- leaders will carry a four- shot lead into today’s second round.

Matthews said Monday’s weather was a contributing factor to the low scores.

“The conditions were tough, a little windy, the greens were firming up and were really fast. It was playing really nice though, the course is in amazing shape,” Matthews said.

The Arkansas women sit four strokes ahead of second- place LSU heading into today’s second round.

On the men’s side, which finished up in almost darkness Monday, Arkansas junior Segundo Pinto fired a two-under 70 to join a long list of players tied for fourth.

Tennessee built an eight-shot lead by firing a 280 on Monday, led by Hunter Wolcott, who leads by one shot in the medalist category with a 68. Kentucky’s Alex Goff and Bryce Lewis of Tennessee are tied for second, one shot back after opening 69s.

Arkansas is sitting in sixth after a 5 over.

(NWA Democrat-Gazette/David Gottschalk) University of Arkansas golfer Brooke Matthews watches her drive on the first tee Monday during the Blessings Collegiate Invitational at the Blessings Golf Club in Johnson. Matthews led Arkansas with a 67, helping the Razorbacks to the lead among the 14 SEC teams.

(NWA Democrat-Gazette/David Gottschalk) Cory Lopez of the Arkansas Razorbacks watches her drive on the first tee at the Blessings Collegiate Invitational at the Blessings Golf Club in Johnson. Lopez shot a 72 as the Razorbacks lead in the women’s division. More photos online at arkansasonline.com/106golf.