FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The fourth-ranked University of Arkansas women’s golf team returns to the East coast for the Ruth’s Chris Tar Heel Invitational, the third of four events this fall.
The Razorbacks have had a fast start to the season winning their first event at the Powerade Cougar Classic in Charleston, S.C. Arkansas then faced one of the toughest invitation-only fields at the ANNIKA Intercollegiate bringing home a third-place finish.
The field is again challenging this weekend at the Ruth’s Chris with the Razorbacks taking on two other teams in the Golfweek.com top-10 and 11 in the top-50. Arkansas is making the program’s eighth appearance at the event and it’s fifth consecutive. The Razorbacks have three consecutive top-5 finishes at the UNC Finley Course.
Senior All-American Gabriela Lopez leads the Razorbacks with a 70.50 stroke average. Lopez, a Mexico City, Mexico, native, is ranked 11th as an individual in the Golfweek rankings this week. She has two top-10 finishes this year and has played both of the first two tournaments nine-under par this season.
Countrywoman and fellow senior Regina Plasencia checks in with a 70.83 stroke average and is ranked No. 20 in the Golfstat.com individual standings. Plasencia paced the Razorbacks at the Powerade Cougar Classic tying for third place overall. She tied for 13th at the ANNKIA.
Junior Summar Roachell is making her third start this season as well. Roachell tied for 12th at the Powerade and finished even par at the ANNIKA in her first two tournaments of the season. She is averaging 72.17 this season.
Freshman Cara Gorlei is back in the lineup for the second consecutive week. The Cape Town, South Africa, native carded a three-over 219 in the challenging ANNIKA and is making her second start as a Razorback.
Sophomore Alana Uriell rounds out the traveling five this week. The Carlsbad, Calif., native has also made both of the first two trips this year, tying for fifth at the Powerade to start the season.
| @RazorbackWGolf | Stroke Average | Golfweek Ranking |
| Gabriela Lopez | 70.50 | 11 |
| Regina Plasencia | 70.83 | 20 |
| Summar Roachell | 72.17 | 56 |
| Cara Gorlei | 73.00 | 114 |
| Alana Uriell | 72.50 | 74 |
| The Field | Golfweek Ranking |
| Alabama | 2 |
| Arkansas | 4 |
| Auburn | 38 |
| Baylor | 48 |
| Duke | 7 |
| Kentucky | 83 |
| LSU | 28 |
| Louisville | 30 |
| Mississippi State | 51 |
| North Carolina | 52 |
| North Carolina State | 39 |
| Oregon | 32 |
| Rollins College | -- |
| South Carolina | 36 |
| UNC-Wilmington | 75 |
| Virginia | 12 |
| Wake Forest | 41 |