STANFORD, Calif. – The defending champion Stanford women's golf team combined for an 8-over-par score of 292 Friday and is tied for fourth, seven strokes behind leader Northwestern, after the first round of Stanford Intercollegiate at rainy Stanford Golf Course.
Seventeen schools and 18 teams are participating in the 54-hole tournament. Northwestern recorded a score 1-over 285.
Early on, conditions were windy and overcast. A light sprinkle started mid-morning and turned into steady rain all afternoon.
The Cardinal, ranked No. 2 in the country, fielded two teams. The B squad is 10th at 16-over 300.
"What I liked has nothing to do with my top five players," said Anne Walker, the Margot and Mitch Milias Director of Women's Golf. "It's the fact that our 10th score was a 78. Pretty impressive in incredibly tough conditions."
Freshman Andrea Lee, a winner last week in her college debut at the Windy City Intercollegiate, and senior Casey Danielson, led the A's with 1-over-par 72s. Senior Jisoo Keel and junior Shannon Aubert added 74s, and sophomore Sierra Kersten shot 76.
"It was definitely tougher than usual," Lee said. "The course was playing longer. Especially when some holes where you usually hit a 5-iron in you had to hit a 3-wood. I just hung in there and tried to stay patient."
Lee, a decorated amateur who played on the U.S. Curtis Cup and World Amateur Teams this year, admitted last week's breakthrough victory in Chicago surprised her.
"I really had no expectations," said Lee. "I was just trying to get into the spirit of the team. I actually did shock myself. I didn't think I would go out and shoot 5-under (67) the last day. I had no idea when I made that birdie putt on 18 it was for the win."
Friday's round marked the collegiate starts of Cardinal freshmen Albane Valenzuela, Emily Wang and Madie Chou. Playing for the B team, Valenzuela posted 74, Wang 75 and Chou 76. Senior Quirine Eijkenboom also had 75 and junior Calli Ringsby 78.
Valenzuela represented Switzerland at the Rio Olympics, one of only three amateurs to qualify, and tied for 21st.
"On the way to the course, Emily said she was less nervous than she had been for qualifying," said Walker. "That's the beauty of having a big, competitive team. In qualifying, every time you tee it up you feel a lot of stress and anxiety. So if (tournament) competition can feel less stressful, that's a good thing."
The weather is supposed to improve for Saturday's second round.
"We had some players who had a tough time adjusting to the course, which is not a good excuse," Walker said. "If we can clean that up a little bit tomorrow, we'll be okay."
Georgia Lacey of San Diego State earned the individual lead with a 67. Starting on the back nine, she fired a 4-under 32 and finished with six birdies. Two-time defending medalist Bronte Law of UCLA shot 70 and is tied for fourth.
Lee and Danielson are tied for 11th.
Second-round play begins at 8:30 a.m. on the No. 1 and 10 tees. The public is invited and admission is free.
For live results and pairings, visit GoStanford.com.
