April 3, 2006

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. - The Texas Tech women's gold team opened play at the Northwestern Invitational on Monday and the Lady Raiders sit in 10th place after turning in a team score of 600 during the first two rounds of the event at the Gary Player Signature Course at the Westin Mission Hills Resort.

Freshmen Megan Dowdy and Ulrika Van Niekerk paced Tech on Monday, each firing a two-round total of 148 to end the day in a tie for 27th place. Fellow rookie Gloriana Soto sits in a tie for 49th place after opening play with a 154, meanwhile, senior Ashley Slavich is just one shot back in 53rd place with a tournament total of 155.

Junior Marla Troester will look to improve on her 67th place finish after day one in Tuesday's third and final round.

Texas Tech at the Northwestern Invitational 
Player			Final	1st Rd	2nd Rd	3rd Rd	Total	Rank
Megan Dowdy		+4	73	75	-	148	t27th
Ulrika Van Niekerk	         +4	75	73	-	158	t27th
Gloriana Soto		+10	77	77	-	154	t53rd
Ashley Slavich		+11	76	79	-	155	t53rd
Marla Troester		+16	86	74	-	160	t67th