Nobuta Ferry and Huang tie for first at the 10th Women’s Stroke Play
THE WOODLANDS – After postponing for Hurricane Beryl and a course change, the 10th annual Women’s Stroke Play started on Friday at The Woodlands CC (North Course). The first round ended with Flower Mound’s Honorine Nobuta Ferry and Katy’s own Maye Huang both carding a 2-under 70 to share the lead.
“It was such a tough course, its playing so long, it’s almost 6,400 yards,” Nobuta Ferry said. “The ball doesn’t release very much, because it’s a bit wet, I’m really happy with the grind out there.”
Huang was able to make four birdies. “I kind of just played my game, focusing on one shot at a time and just had fun,” Huang said.
Tied for third at 1-over 73 was McKinney’s Shyla Brown, Bentley Cotton of Katy and Emma McMyler from San Antonio.
Brown reflected on her round and said, “I was just focusing on fairways and greens mainly, staying in play the whole day, It’s the first round so I wanted to keep myself in contention.”
The current Kathy Whitworth Invitational winner cemented her spot in the top three, making two birdies.
Moving on to University of Texas’ very own Bently Cotton, the three-time all Big-12 team, shares the spot with Brown and McMyler.
“It was a super slow round, I was even through seven, made a bogey on eight, then birdied nine…I bounced back with three birdies in a row,” Cotton said.
McMyler the two-time Women’s Texas Amateur Champion shared her thoughts on her round.
“I played some good golf today, made two mistakes where I made two doubles, other than that I was giving myself good birdie looks all day,” McMyler said.
Just two strokes behind in sixth place shooting 3-over at 75, was Ava Osburne of Austin.
“There were a lot of positives to take out of today, but definitely some things I need to work on,” Osburne said. “I feel pretty confident in my game.”
Moving on to the Low Mid-Amateur Championship Division, The Woodlands’ very own Stephanie Hurlbert shot 6-over par at 78.
Looking at the Flights Division, Flight One is led by Leslie Henry from Corsicana at 6-over for a 78, Flight Two is led by Sugarland’s own Cindy Gilkeson at 83 strokes, the leader for Flight Three is Sabra Fullwood of Leander at 96.
Today’s yardage for the Championship Division was played at 6,318 yards and the Flight yardage was played at 5,388 yards.
Round 2 of the Women’s Stroke Play Championship starts Saturday at 8:00 am.