STANFORD, Calif. – Led by Mariah Stackhouse’s 4-under, Stanford opened the Stanford Intercollegiate hosted by Condoleezza Rice with a 2-under 282 through 18 holes.
Heading into the weekend with the remaining 36 holes of the home event yet to be played at Stanford Golf Course, the Cardinal is tied with Northwestern for second place and three strokes behind first-place UCLA. USC and Kentucky rounded out the top-five by shooting even-par.
“This was kind of the goal we had coming into today, putting something together that didn’t put us out of the championship,” said Stanford’s Margot and Mitch Milias Director of Women’s Golf Anne Walker on the Cardinal’s opening round. “It didn't have to be crazy low, but we wanted to put a solid round together, and I think we accomplished that."
Stackhouse rebounded from a double-bogey on the opening par-5 first hole of her round to shoot a 67. Immediately after the double-bogey, Stackhouse responded with birdies on each of the next two holes to get back to even-par.
“On the first hole, I was a little nervous because I’m excited about the fact that it’s my junior year and I only have two more opportunities at this tournament,” Stackhouse said. “The double bogey motivated me. I needed to get back. My goal right at that point was to be back at even-par by the time I got through five, and I did it by the time I got through three.”
Stackhouse eagled the par-5 seventh to get under par for the first time, where should we remain for the rest of her round.
Stackhouse is tied for second place in the individual standings behind UCLA’s Bronte Law, who led all players with a 6-under 65 on Friday.
Casey Danielson sits in the top-10 after opening with a 2-under 69. Quirine Eijkenboom shot a 1-over 72, and Shannon Aubert and Lauren Kim both finished 3-over to bring Stanford’s team total to 2-under.
Freshman Calli Ringsby, who was competing as an individual, shot 8-over.
The second round of the event continues Saturday at 8:30 a.m. (PT). The Cardinal is scheduled to tee off between 10 a.m. and 10:36 a.m. on the first hole. Live results will be available at GoStanford.com.