Walker, BYU in second after day one of Red Raider Invitational

Three Cougars sit in the top 10 after 36 holes at the Red Raider Invitational at The Rawls Course on Tuesday.

Author Zach Halliday
Kate Walker hits a drive at the 2026 Red Raider Invitational.Kate Walker hits a drive at the 2026 Red Raider Invitational.
Morgan Pickett/Texas Tech Athletics

LUBBOCK, Texas — BYU women’s golf sits in second place at 7-over par after 36 holes at the Red Raider Invitational at The Rawls Course on Tuesday.

Freshman Kate Walker carded a 3-under 141 with rounds of 71 and 70 to sit in second place and lead the Cougars. Senior Whitney Banz is tied for seventh at 2 over, while freshman Tatum Otto is tied for ninth at 3 over.

“Our freshmen played a great first round, and Kate is in a great position,” head coach Carrie Roberts said. “We ham and egged it really well today and stayed patient in the wind.”

In rainy and windy conditions, Walker opened the tournament on No. 3 with a bogey. She moved to 1 under at the turn after birdies on Nos. 7 and 9. The freshman finished the opening round with a 1-over 71, adding bogeys on Nos. 10 and 18 and birdies on Nos. 14 and 16.

Walker carded a 2-under 70 in the second round, opening with a birdie on No. 7 and a bogey on No. 8. She added three more birdies on Nos. 12, 17 and 18 and a bogey on No. 13 to finish the day at 3 under.

Banz shot consecutive rounds of 73 to finish the day at 2 over and tied for seventh. She made three birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey in the opening round before adding two birdies and three bogeys in the second round.

Otto is tied for ninth to round out the Cougars currently in the top 10. She carded rounds of 70 and 72 for a 3-over 147.

Senior María José “MJ” Barragán recorded rounds of 78 and 71 to finish at 5-over 149 and tied for 14th.

Senior Berlin Long shot a 13-over 157 with rounds of 78 and 79 and is tied for 45th.

Competing as an individual, sophomore Nya Palmer sits tied for 39th at 11 over after rounds of 80 and 75.

Tournament host Texas Tech (294-285-579) holds first place at 3 over. Abilene Christian sits in third at 14 over, while New Mexico is fourth at 19 over. Sam Houston rounds out the top five at 21 over.

The final round will begin with a shotgun start at 7:30 a.m. MDT on Wednesday. Live scoring is available at scoreboard.com.