GOLF
UA golfer leads AWGA Stroke Championship by 12
The Arkansas Women’s Golf Association Stroke Championships has become the Summar Roachell Show.
Roachell opened the back side of Tuesday’s second round with three consecutive birdies as the University of Arkansas golfer fired a 3-under 68 to take a commanding lead heading into today’s final round at Bella Vista Country Club. Roachell, of Conway, is at 1-under 141 and will take a 12-stroke lead to the final 18 holes.
Heidi Rice carded a 3-over 74 Tuesday and stands alone in second at 11-over 153. Brenda Carr and Grier Bennett are tied for third at 12-over 154.
Roachell, who will be a sophomore this fall for the Razorbacks, had 30 putts Tuesday during a round that included five birdies and two bogeys.
“I have been hitting some really good shots, but I just hadn’t had any putts drop,” Roachell said. “I got some good looks the first three holes on the back side and I dropped them for birdies. I got some momentum, and I tried to carry that through the rest of the round.”
— NWA Media
Lopez, LaBarbera move on
Arkansas junior Gabby Lopez and signee Jordy LaBarbera advanced out of stroke play and will play in the match play portion of the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championshp at Nassau Country Club in Glen Cove, N.Y.
Lopez finished 21st in stroke play after shooting 73-71—144. She will face Hannah O’Sullivan of Paradise Valley, Ariz., in her first match. La Barbera, who shot 75-70—145 to finish tied for 33rd in stroke play, will face Ember Schuldt of Sterling, Ill., in her first match.
Junior Regina Plasencia missed the cut after shooting 74-77—151.
BASEBALL
UALR adds transfer
UALR Coach Chris Curry announced Tuesday that Kyle Kirk has signed with the Trojans after spending the last season at Navarro College and the previous season at Houston.
Kirk, who bats left-handed and throws right-handed, played third base at Houston, where he hit .312 with 17 RBI in 32 starts for the Cougars. At Navarro, the Houston native batted .264 in 47 games.
Ozarks adds assistant
Nathan Bacon has been added to the University of the Ozarks’ coaching staff as an assistant, Coach and Athletic Director Jimmy Clark announced Tuesday.
Bacon was the pitching coach at Summit Christian Academy in Lee’s Summit, Mo., last season. He was a pitcher at Avila University, where he earned all-conference honors twice.
VOLLEYBALL
Johnson joins ASU staff
Tristan Johnson, who spent the past two seasons as a student assistant at Alabama, has joined Arkansas State as an assistant coach.
Johnson has worked several camps for the Red Wolves, the Crimson Tide and Texas A&M. He also spent time as a video coordinator for the U.S. men’s and women’s national teams and was a student assistant at Blinn College in Brenham, Texas.