SAN ANTONIO - North Texas opened its second tournament of the fall season by firing a 298 to finish at +10 during the first round of the Maryb S Kauth Invitational from TPC San Antonio's AT&T Canyons course Sunday. Senior Sabina Pena led the way for the Mean Green with an even par 72, which has her tied for 13th on the player leaderboard. North Texas sits sixth heading into day two.

"We started out slow today but the back nine was better," head coach Michael Akers said. "Having to take +7 really hurt us but we have to look at how close we are to great things. Claire had a great round in the individual spot. With only one event completed this fall we are trying to figure out who is going to step up in competition. Every team has qualification of some kind to chose the starting line-up but tournament scores are what counts. Sabina, Lauren and Audrey did a nice job of playing solid and minimizing mistakes."

Pena birdied twice Sunday, on 12 and 18, and parred 14 holes, including her first six to pace the Mean Green.

Claire Cameron, a transfer from Kentucky, also shot an even par 72 while competing as an individual. She, like Pena, birdied a pair of holes on Sunday, doing so on 4 and 7. She finished with 14 pars as well, finishing with 11 straight pars to close her day.

Junior Lauren Cox had a strong performance as well, posting a 73 in her opening round, and sits in 20th place at +1. She rebounded from a tough start where she bogeyed three of her first five holes with three birdies, on 7, 8 and 16 to close inside the top 20.

Freshman Audrey Tan is in a tie for 24th place after her 74 has her at +2. She opened with nine consecutive pars and then birdied No. 10. Were it not for a double bogey on 15, Tan would be right up with her other teammates inside the top 20.

"We are talking about the drastic change in weather and trying to get mentally prepared for it," Akers said. "If the forecast holds we will see a completely different golf course tomorrow. If the temperature drops 30 degrees and the wind switches from the North with 30 miles per hour gusts we need to embrace it and stay strong."

UNT will tee off the second round tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. CT Monday, as the Mean Green look to climb the leaderboard.
 
Team Leaderboard
1. TCU (-9)
T2. Houston (-3)
T2. Marshall (-3)
4. Tennessee (E)
5. UT San Antonio (+3)
6. North Texas (+10)
7. Oral Roberts (+12)
8. UAB (+22)
9. Incarnate Word (+25)
 
Player Leaderboard
T13. Sabina Pena (E)
T21. Lauren Cox (+1)
T24. Audrey Tan (+2)
T40. Sol Lee (+7)
T44. Patricia Sinolungan (+8)
Competing as an Individual
T13. Claire Cameron (E)