BEAUMONT, Texas – The Texas State women's golf team is posting a dominant performance at the Cardinal Challenge hosted by Lamar at the Beaumont Country Club.

The Bobcats opened the event 1-under across the first 18 holes, 14 strokes better than their closest competition. The 287 was the lowest opening round for TXST since a 286 to begin the Jim West Challenge on Oct. 20. Following a 10-over second round, the Bobcats extended their lead in the tournament, topping the field by 23 strokes at +9 heading into the final round of play Tuesday. Midwestern State is second at +32 and Lamar rounds out the top three at +51.

Miren Ontanon fired a season-tying, low round to start play on Monday. The freshman went 3-under 69, her second round in the 60s in five tournaments since joining the Bobcats in January, and sat atop the leaderboard by three strokes over teammate Yvonne Chamness. Ontanon went on to shoot +3 in the second round to conclude the day even par and tied for first with Chamness.

Chamness finished her first day even with 72s in both rounds, and Ella Salama finished her day 5-over and tied for fourth. The freshman went 1-under in the first round before finishing her day 6-over in the second.

Carla Bourdeaux and Mattingly Palmer are both tied for sixth, each recording 7-over 151 scores through 36 holes.

TXST is paired with Midwestern State and Lamar for tee times starting at 8:30 a.m. CT from holes 1, 3, 5, 6 and 7.