Marta López Echevarría Goes Just 2-Over in the NCAA Regional First Round

NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. – In front of her teammates and her family – who traveled all the way from Spain – Marta López Echevarría went 2-over in the NCAA Regional first round at Champion Trace at Keene Trace Golf Club in Nicholasville, Kentucky, on Monday. She is tied for 26th place in the 66-person field, while she is tied for second place among the individual qualifiers.

The Wildcat got off to a strong start to the first round, battling through the early elements of the day.

She went 1-under through the first five holes after carding a birdie on the par-3 No. 2. In that time, she danced inside the top 10. She then suffered a pair of bogeys on the par-4 No. 6 and the par-5 No. 8 before making the turn just 1-over.

López Echevarría got back to even par with a birdie on the par-4 No. 12. Although, a couple more bogeys on the par-3 No. 16 and par-4 No. 17 put her right back at 2-over. The senior – competing for a spot in the NCAA Championship individual field in California in mid-May – concluded the first round with a par on the par-4 No. 18.

The leading individual from the Lexington Regional – not on one of the five advancing teams – will advance to the final site at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, California, on May 16-21.

López Echevarría is currently tied for second among the individual qualifiers in the field, two shots behind Emma Bunch (E) of New Mexico State and tied with Caroline Smith (+2) of Indiana.

The field still has 36 holes remaining, including 18 holes of stroke play on Tuesday and 18 holes of stroke play on Wednesday. The field can expect sunny skies and temperatures in the upper 60s Tuesday, with promising weather again on Wednesday.

López Echevarría will tee off in the second round at 9:50 a.m. ET off hole No. 1.

Live scoring throughout the event can be found here.

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