KERRVILLE – The team of Joanna Davis and Marian Barker posted a 3-under-par 75 on Monday to share the lead with Julie Robichaux and Diane Henry after the opening round of the 2017 Women’s Texas Pinehurst at Riverhill Country Club.
 
Davis and Barker, of Georgetown and Lubbock, respectively, started the day with five straight pars  to get off to a steady start in the fifth annual playing of the popular team event. Davis and Barker went on to card three bogies during their opening nine and turned at 3-over par. Davis and Barker regained their rhythm and went on another five hole stretch with pars. The co-leaders made another bogey on the par4 15th, but they were able to bounce back and close out the round with their lone birdie of the day on the par 18th hole. 
 
Kingwood’s Robichaux and Kerrville’s Henry also began their day with a five pars in a row. But, this steady start was not their most impressive stretch of the day. After making three bogies and sitting at 3-over par through nine holes, Robichaux and Henry closed out their round with an impressive run of eight consecutive pars. The stretch allowed them to tie for the lead of the first flight and overall competition with Davis and Barker.
 
Prior to the first round, the teams were split into three flights based on their combined handicap indexes.
 
In the second flight, Ronda Pantoja and Mary Croley, of Tomball and Houston respectively, share a two-stroke lead over their flight along with Julie Hoopingarner and Maggie Harmon after carding a 12-over 84. They lead Linda Sackett, of Boerne, and Tammy Trichell, of Helotes, who sit at 14-over par.
 
In the third flight, Houston’s Mollie Hammonds and Ellen Wallace are tied for the lead with Lindah Jackman and Deborah Nelson, of Montgomery. Both teams carded 11-over 83s. The teams hold the narrow lead over Liza Robinson and Lyn Jones of Houston.
 
The Women’s Texas Pinehurst uses the “Chapman Stroke Play” format. Playing as partners, each player hits a drive on every hole and then plays their partner’s ball for the second shot. From there, the partners select the ball with which they wish to score and play the ball alternately to complete the hole.
 
The final round of the Women’s Texas Pinehurst begins Tuesday at 9 a.m. with another shotgun start. For more information, please click here.