Jack Brown Memorial 2023 (Round One)

LAREDO, Texas – Teeing off for the first time in the 2023 calendar year at the Jack Brown Memorial from Laredo Country Club, leading the way was Academy of Art women's golf junior Tessa Geenen as she sits tied for sixth at 5-over-par 77 after the first 18 holes. Meanwhile, ART U is currently eighth as a squad at 49-over-par 337. 

Beginning her round on the 10th hole, Geenen found a pair of birdies on the 12th and 16th holes as she eventually made the turn at 3-over, then closed out her day with one more on her final hole (ninth) to reach the tie for sixth. The three birdies are currently tied for the third most in the tournament field, while she also posted the fourth-best combined score on par-4 holes (3-over, 4.3 stroke average).

Just missing the top 20 is junior Napat "Plern" Rattanaprakarn, who is currently tied for 24th after she turned in an 11-over-par 83, while freshman Nicole Yang is tied for 45th at 16-over-par 88. Rounding out the scoring is junior Valeria Ruiz in a tie for 48th place at 17-over-par 89.

Though Academy of Art is in eighth as a unit, they are just two strokes behind the duo of Biola (top finishing PacWest team) and Texas A&M Kingsville, who are both tied for sixth place at 47-over-par 335. Leading the team competition is West Texas A&M at 24-over-par 312, who are led by the top individual in the field as Alyssa Campbell is currently in first place after a round of even-par 72. 

The Jack Brown Memorial will conclude with the final 18 holes tomorrow, with a shotgun start scheduled for 9 a.m. CT.