BROKEN ARROW, Okla. - Florida Gulf Coast's women's golf team sits sixth after the first day of the Route 66 Invitational honoring Dale McNamara at The Golf Club of Oklahoma. The Eagles posted rounds of 296 and 304 in Monday's 36 holes for a total of 24-over 600.
 
FGCU trails leader Tulsa by 23 shots and sits two back of fifth-place Rutgers and one ahead of seventh-place Texas A&M at the par-72, 6,384-yard layout. The Eagles' opening-round 296 was the third-best team score in the first round. The final round starts Tuesday, Oct. 20 at 9:30 a.m. ET.
 
Sydney Deal leads the Eagles in a tie for ninth at 2-over 146. She opened with a 1-under 71, the Eagles' low round of the day and tied for the third-lowest score in the field in round one. Deal turned in a 1-under 35 on the front nine with birdies at Nos. 4 and 7 around a bogey at the first. She added birdies at 10 and 18 on the back nine. In round two, Deal was 3-under through 11 holes after birdies at Nos. 4, 10 and 11 before finishing with a 3-over 75.
 
Annie Yost is tied for 21st at 5-over 149 after rounds of 75 and 74. She turned in a 1-under 35 on the front nine in round one with birdies at Nos. 3, 5 and 9, then birdied the 10th to reach 2-under for the round. Yost improved by a shot in round two, playing the back nine in 1-over 37.
 
Sarah Hyten is tied for 30th at 7-over 151 after rounds of 74 and 77. She opened with a birdie at No. 1 on the way to an even-par 36 on the front nine in round one and added a birdie at 16 on the back nine.
 
Charlene Lamb sits tied for 55th at 11-over 155 after a 77 and a 78. She turned in an even-par 36 on the front nine in round one with birdies at Nos. 4 and 8, and birdied the par-5 13th on the back nine. Ann Burel, competing as an individual, is also tied for 55th at 11-over 155 after rounds of 77 and 78. All three of her round-two birdies came on par 5s, at Nos. 8, 13 and 18. Gia Culler-Guerra is tied for 64th at 13-over 157. She turned in a 1-under 35 on the front nine in round one with back-to-back birdies at Nos. 4 and 5, and birdied Nos. 1 and 9 in round two.
 
Hyten is tied for sixth-most pars in the field with 26, while Yost is tied for 16th with 24.
 
"Sydney gave us a great start this morning with that 71, and we put ourselves in a good spot after the first round. We let a few shots get away in the afternoon, so we want to come out tomorrow, take care of the mistakes and finish strong," head coach Shannon Sykora said.
 
FGCU Scores:
T9. Sydney Deal - 146 (+2) (71-75)
T21. Annie Yost - 149 (+5) (75-74)
T30. Sarah Hyten - 151 (+7) (74-77)
T55. Charlene Lamb - 155 (+11) (77-78)
T55. Ann Burel (Ind.) - 155 (+11) (77-78)
T64. Gia Culler-Guerra - 157 (+13) (76-81)
 
Team Leaderboard:
1. Tulsa - 577 (+1)
2. Georgia Southern - 585 (+9)
3. Coastal Carolina - 588 (+12)
4. Wisconsin - 594 (+18)
5. Rutgers - 598 (+22)
6. Florida Gulf Coast - 600 (+24)
7. Texas A&M - 601 (+25)
8. Georgia - 602 (+26)
9. Oral Roberts - 604 (+28)
10. Cal Poly - 607 (+31)
11. North Florida - 610 (+34)
12. Colorado State - 612 (+36)
13. Iowa - 614 (+38)
T14. Gonzaga - 622 (+46)
T14. Montana State - 622 (+46)
16. Seattle - 626 (+50)
 
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