Ella Forss Shines As TCU Opens The Ally In Seventh Place

TCU freshman Ella Forss gave the Horned Frogs exactly what they needed Monday at The Ally, firing a bogey-free 3-under 69 to put herself squarely in contention at Old Waverly Golf Club.

Forss finished the opening round tied for fourth, just one shot behind co-leaders Lisa Herman of Ole Miss, Avery Weed of Mississippi State and Valentine Delon of Virginia Tech, who each posted 4-under 68s.

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The freshman from Gothenburg, Sweden, did all of her scoring on the back nine. Forss birdied Nos. 11, 14 and 16 and avoided a bogey across all 18 holes, becoming one of only two players in the 90-golfer field to finish the day without dropping a shot.

It continues an impressive start to her college career.

Forss has now posted par or better in four of seven rounds this season and has led TCU in the opening round of its last two tournaments. She also opened the Schooner Fall Classic with a 4-under 66 in September.

TCU, however, couldn't match Forss' consistency as a team.

The No. 27 Horned Frogs finished Monday tied for seventh with Virginia Tech at 6-over 294. TCU was even par through the front nine and remained in position for a strong finish until a costly 18th hole added five strokes to the team total.

Kirstin Angosta, Camille Min-Gaultier and Sofie Dimitrova each carded 3-over 75s and finished the day tied for 42nd. Gracie McGovern shot a 4-over 76 and sits tied for 50th.

Despite the difficult finish, TCU remains within striking distance.

The Horned Frogs are only three shots behind No. 7 Florida and five behind Oklahoma State and Kentucky.

Ole Miss owns the team lead after shooting 7-under 281, four shots clear of Mississippi State.

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Forss, meanwhile, has an opportunity to turn an excellent opening round into something much bigger.

TCU returns to the course Tuesday morning alongside Vanderbilt and Virginia Tech, with Forss beginning Round 2 just one swing away from the individual lead.