Texas Tech's Gabby Barker
(Texas Tech Athletics Photo)

Moore led after 36-holes last year but faltered during the back nine of the final round. This year Moore, a sophomore at Arizona, jumped to the lead with a 4-under 68 in the first round and then remained at that number with an even-par 72 in the second round.

Moore seemed in control on Thursday through nine holes as she turned with a bogey-free 2-under 34 but then stumbled heading for home with three bogeys and a birdie on the backside.

Reigning Big 12 Player of the Year Gabby Barker earned a share of the lead with her second round 1-under 71. The Texas Tech star opened on No. 10 and birdied the 13th before dropping a shot on the 18th. Early on her second nine Barker bounced back and forth between 1-under and even-par and it wasn't until she birdied the 8th did Barker reach the red for good.

SMU sophomore Brigitte Dunne matched the round of the day with a bogey-free 2-under 70 that pushed her to 4-under for the tournament. The 2016 American Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year had her birdies come in quick succession on Nos. 5 and 6.

Colorado's Brittany Fan is 2-under and two behind in fourth while Ashely Menne and Arizona's Krystal Quihuis share fifth at 1-under.

ROUND ONE RECAP

One year ago Arizona sophomore Haley Moore led the Joanne Winter Arizona Silver Belle after 36-holes but got past in the final round. Fast forward to 2016 and after one round she is back atop the leaderboard. Moore opened her week at Talking Stick Golf Club with a 4-under 68 to take the lead by one-stroke over two others.

Beginning on the 10th hole, Moore quickly moved into red figures with a birdie on No. 12 and then rolled in another three holes later. Following a 16th hole bogey, Moore got back to her birdieing ways with her third of the side on No. 18 to turn in 2-under 34.

Heading for home Moore, the AGC Women's San Diego Amateur winner earlier this month, birdied three more times versus only a bogey. The birdies came on the second, fifth and seventh hole and gave her six for the round.

High schooler Alexa Melton and Texas Tech junior Gabby Barker both shot 3-under 69's and they are tied for second place.

Melton, teeing off the 10th, got out to a quick start with a first hole birdie and then an eagle on the par-5 12th. From that moment forward it was survival mood for Melton as she played even-par golf the rest of the way with three birdies and three bogeys.

Barker, the 2016 Big 12 Women's Golf Player of the Year, was nearly flawless during her first round with birdies coming in bunches. Her first two came on the first and fifth holes before her final two were carded on Nos. 11 and 12. The only bogey was produced at No. 16.

Behind the leading trio things are crowded with four players tied for fourth at 2-under and an additional four grouped at 1-under and in eighth. The tied for fourth group includes SMU freshman and defending champion Kenzie Wright.