GRANBURY, Texas – Sophomore Taylor Klutts fired a six-over-par 78 to lead the Midwestern State Mustangs in the first round of the George "Doc" Housewright Invitational Monday.
 
Klutts is just four strokes off the individual lead and is tied for 10th after carding a 41-37 in the first round of the tournament at Harbor Lakes Golf Club.
 
The Mustangs as a team struggled in the high winds that battered the course, finishing the round 13th of 20 teams with a 339. Tarleton State leads the tournament at 306, with St. Edward's five strokes back at 311 and Grand Canyon (Ariz.) in third at 312.
 
"We had a rough day," said MSU Coach Jeff Ray. "that was a tough course golf and the wind was blowing 20-30 mph and the scores reflected that."
 
Sophomore Kendra Whittley added a first round 81 for MSU, with Lauren Romines posting an 89 and senior Kyla Whittley turning in a 91.  Megan Richardson turned in a 93, while Lindsay Burkhart carded an 86 playing as an individual.
 
"There were a lot of high scores," Ray added. "We just didn't get a three quality scores.  That's just not going to get it done in college golf."
 
Individually Tarleton State's Carla Cooper leads the way. She shot a two-over 74 to hold a one stroke lead over Grand Canyon's Jacqueline Sneddon and St. Ed's Ryanne Haddow at 75.
 
The tournament field features a Who's Who of teams from the entire West Region, including Hawaii-Hilo.
 
"A lot of these teams came a long way to get in the last tournament as a regional qualifier," Ray stated. "All of these teams are fighting to qualify for the regional."
 
The tournament concludes with the second 18-hole round Tuesday.
  

Doc Housewright Invitational
Harbor Lakes Golf Club
Granbury, Texas
Par-72,  5,790 yards
Team Leaderboard
Place									Team	Round Scores	Total	To Par
1									Tarleton State (Texas)	306	306	+18
2									St. Edward's (Texas)	311	311	+23
3									Grand Canyon (Ariz.)	312	312	+24
4									California (Pa.)	316	316	+28
5									Northeastern State (Okla.)	319	319	+31
6									Academy of Art (Calif.)	328	328	+40
7									Central Oklahoma	329	329	+41
8									Newman (Kan.)	330	330	+42
									Cal State-Monterey Bay	330	330	+42
10									Western Washington	334	334	+46
									Nebraska-Omaha	334	334	+46
									Angelo State (Texas)	334	334	+46
13									Midwestern State (Texas)	339	339	+51
14									St. Martin's (Wash.)	340	340	+52
15									Cameron (Okla.)	342	342	+54
16									Chico State (Calif.)	343	343	+55
17									Hawaii-Hilo	345	345	+57
18									West Texas A&M	348	348	+60
									East Central (Okla.)	348	348	+60
20									Southwestern Oklahoma	362	362	+74
21									Texas A&M-Kingsville	385	385	+97
Individual Leaderboard
Place									Player, Team	Round Scores	Total	To Par
1									Carla Cooper, Tarleton State	74	74	+2
2									Jacqueline Sneddon, Grand Canyon	75	75	+3
									Ryanne Haddow, St. Edward's	75	75	+3
4									Kelsay Kirkpatrick, Northeastern State	76	76	+4
									Jacy Benites, St. Edward's	76	76	+4
6									Sharon Lau, Tarleton State	77	77	+5
									Shelby Hooper, Chico State	77	77	+5
									Katy Ward, Tarleton State	77	77	+5
9									Ashley Mooney, Grand Canyon	78	78	+6
									Whitney McAteer, Northeastern State	78	78	+6
									Taylor Klutts, Midwestern State	78	78	+6
									Jacqueline Lau, Tarleton State	78	78	+6
									Megan Birdsey, Newman	78	78	+6
Midwestern State Scorecard
13									Midwestern State	339	339	+51
9t									Taylor Klutts	78	78	+6
29t									Kendra Whittley	81	81	+9
80t									Lauren Romines	89	89	+17
87t									Kyla Whittley	91	91	+19
93t									Megan Richardson	93	93	+21
64t									Lindsay Burkhart*	86	86	+14