Texas Girls’ Invitational First Round Suspended due to Darkness
SULPHUR SPRINGS – Avery Zweig of McKinney leads at the 16th Texas Girls’ Invitational after Round One was suspended due to darkness. Both players finished at 3-under par and will return to the course Friday morning to complete their rounds before continuing to the second round.
The tournament at Sulphur Springs Country Club faced multiple weather delays on Thursday, as heavy fog and mist settled over the course early in the morning. The delays caused a combined two-hour wait, pushing the first group’s tee time to 10:00 a.m. Shortly after the final group prepared to tee off, lightning and heavy rain forced the suspension of play at 11:55 a.m. After a break, play resumed at 2:30 p.m., but the day would end early as darkness set in at approximately 5:45 p.m., halting play for the day.
Despite the challenging conditions, Zweig demonstrated a strong performance to get atop the leaderboard at the time play was suspended.
Zweig, a senior committed to Texas A&M University, handled the adverse weather with poise, producing a steady round under pressure. Starting on the back nine, Zweig birdied No. 11, No. 14, and No. 18 to make a significant move up the leaderboard.Zweig would bogey No.1 before bouncing back with back-to-back birdies on No. 5 and No. 6. Zweig appeared undeterred by the sporadic weather delays and showcased impressive resilience.
Chasing Zweig when play was suspended is Addison Surber of Montgomery. The senior who is committed to the University of Missouri, played in the final group off No. 10. Surber’s consistent play was a highlight of the long day. The senior round featured impressive ball-striking and a steady short game.
In a three-way tie for third and rounding out the top five on the leaderboard are Michelle Lee of San Antonio, 2023 Texas Junior Amateur Champion Kaylee Yuan of of Joshua, Gia Ahlowalia of Southlake and Riya Bapna of Coppell. All four players got to 1-under before the suspension of play.
Lee, who started on the back nine showcased strong play by bouncing back from a double bogey on No.13 with three birdies to get right back into contention. Yuan, who has won a handful of times on the Legends Junior Tour is right back in the hunt after getting to No. 15 before the suspension of play with two biridies and a bogey. Ahlowalia and Bapna got through No. 12 before play was suspended and look to finish strong to what was a great start in the First Round.
The first round will resume at 10:30 a.m. Friday, February 16, at the point where play was last suspended. The second round will then begin at 12:30 p.m. with a shotgun start.
This year’s event marks the 16th edition of the Texas Girls’ Invitational, one of the most prestigious amateur golf tournaments for young women in the country. The tournament attracts top-tier talent from across the United States, showcasing the future stars of women’s golf. The 54-hole event is a test of skill, endurance, and mental toughness as players compete on a course known for its challenging layout and unpredictable weather conditions.
For complete and updated scores from Round One, click here. To learn more about Sulphur Springs Country Club, click here. For more details on the 16th Texas Girls’ Invitational, click here.