NASSAU, Bahamas – The UNT women's golf team began play on Monday at the White Sands Bahamas Invitational and is in a solid position after the first of three rounds in a field loaded with nationally ranked teams.
 
Freshman Emilie Ricaud led the way for the Mean Green with a breakout round of 1-under 71, in which she hit all 18 greens in regulation, and UNT enters Round 2 on Tuesday in a tie for ninth place with No. 41 Oklahoma at 7-over par. Ricaud is tied for 12th entering the second round.
 
North Texas is one shot up on No. 48 Tennessee, and every team ahead of the Mean Green on the leaderboard is ranked in the top 35 nationally, while UNT's ranking of No. 60 is creeping up on the all-time best program ranking of No. 50 in the 2010-11 season.
 
Sophomore Patricia Sinolungan is tied for 21st at even-par entering the second round, and sophomore Audrey Tan is tied for 42nd after dropping some late shots and finishing at 3-over for the day.
 
"We started off hot today but dropped some shots down the stretch," UNT head coach Michael Akers said. "I'm very happy to see Emilie break out with a round under par. Patty also fought her way to a solid even-par round. We are in good position to pick up wins against very good teams. We look forward to trying to break par tomorrow."
 
Fans can follow the tournament live on GolfStat. Fans can also follow along with the program on Twitter and Facebook, and find a recap of each day's action at MeanGreenSports.com.
 
Team Leaderboard
1. No. 3 Texas (-12)
2. No. 17 Arkansas (-5)
3. No. 24 Houston (-1)
4. No. 31 Clemson (E)
5. No. 34 Georgia (+1)
6. No. 27 Baylor (+3)
7. No. 25 Ohio State (+5)
8. No. 21 Mississippi State (+6)
T9. North Texas (+7)
T9. No. 41 Oklahoma (+7)
11. No. 48 Tennessee (+8)
T12. Tulane (+11)
T12. SMU (+11)
14. New Mexico (+12)
 
Player Leaderboard
T12. Emilie Ricaud (-1)
T21. Patricia Sinolungan (E)
T42. Audrey Tan (+3)
T64. Katie Finley (+5)
T64. Lauren Cox (+5)
T72. Marija Jucmane (+6)*
*Competing as individual