May 22, 2012
FRANKLIN, Tenn. - Stanford finds itself in 24th place after the first round of the NCAA Women's Golf Championships being held in Franklin, Tenn., after the Cardinal posted a team score of 309 (+21) on the Vanderbilt Legends Golf Club on Tuesday.
The Cardinal is 23 strokes behind first place Alabama, after the Crimson Tide clipped through the first 18 holes at two-under 286 and trails 23rd place Vanderbilt by three strokes after the host Commodores struggled to a 306 on their home course.
Alabama has a two stroke lead over Virginia, which shot an even par 288 on Tuesday and are three strokes ahead of third place Duke, which sits at 298 (+1). North Carolina is four strokes back at 290, followed by defending national champion UCLA and Arizona State, which are tied for fifth at 292.
Freshman Mariko Tumangan was the only Stanford player to break par on Tuesday, as she shot a one-under 71 over her first 18 holes.
Tumangan trails first round leader Portland Rosen of Virginia by five strokes heading into tomorrow's second round. Rosen's opening round 66 leaves her one shot ahead of Laura Gonzalez of Purdue, who carded a 67.
All told, 26 golfers are within six shots of the lead after the opening round.
The Cardinal had to count a 78 by Sally Watson and a pair of 80's turned in by Marissa Mar and Kristina Wong.
Watson, coming off a third place finish at the West Regionals, bogeyed three of her first five holes en route to an opening round 78, leaving her tied for 95th place.
Mar and Wong are tied for 112th while Sydney Burlison's opening round 81 leave her tied for 119th.
Stanford will be paired with Arizona State and Ohio State again on Wednesday.