A&M-Victoria's Pate, Lopez inside Top 6 after Day 1 in Texarkana

TEXARKANA, Texas — Texas A&M–Victoria women's golfers Madeline Pate and Kaitlin Lopez turned in strong opening‑round efforts Monday at a windy Texarkana Invitational.

Both placedinside the top six at Texarkana Country Club with winds gusting over 30 MPH and standing out as two of the top performers on the course's par‑5 holes.

Pate posted an 89 (+17), landing in a tie for third. She found momentum on the outward nine with pars at holes three, six, seven and nine, helping anchor an otherwise challenging layout. Her execution on the par 5s proved pivotal, where she finished second among all competitors with a 5.50 average and played the long holes at just two over.

Lopez followed closely with a round of 90 (+18), tying for sixth. After a difficult opening stretch, she steadied herself on the back nine with crucial pars on holes ten, twelve and fourteen. Like her teammate, Lopez excelled on the par 5s, tying for fourth with a 6.00 average and completing those holes at four over.

Their performances placed both Jaguars comfortably among the tournament's early contenders while showcasing one of the team's collective strengths: effective play on scoring opportunities.

The final round tees up on Tuesday with Pate and Lopez looking to continue their