STANFORD, Calif. – Freshman Andrea Lee picked up where she left off in the fall by firing a 4-under-par 67 on Saturday to secure the first round lead in the 22nd Peg Barnard Invitational at rain-soaked Stanford Golf Course.
Lee earned medalist honors twice for the Cardinal, and showed no sign of slowing down in the spring opener for top-ranked Stanford. She carded five birdies and only one bogey on a sunny but cool day.
Lee's fast start lifted the Cardinal to a score of 2-over 286 in the 12-team event, six strokes ahead of second place Oregon at 8-over. Colorado is third at 9-over 293.
"I'm really happy to be back in competition," said Lee. "We haven't played in a tournament for three months. I was kind of wondering how I would do today, but I played really well, so I'm excited about that."
Lee didn't miss a green in regulation until the par-4 18th hole.
That proved no problem. After hooking her drive into the left trees, she punched out, wedged her third shot from 60 yards six feet past the pin and holed the putt.
"I putted really well and made a lot of 15 to 20-foot putts," she said. "I worked on a lot of things over the winter, especially my putting. It's really improved a lot."
Lee holds a three-shot cushion over Robyn Choi of Colorado, while six players finished with 71s, including Albane Valenzuela and Madie Chou of Stanford, who are tied for third.
The Cardinal fielded two teams. In addition to Lee, the A squad received a 71 from Valenzuela, 74's from Casey Danielson and Ziyi Wang, and a 77 from Sierra Kersten.
The B team is fifth thanks to a 71 by Chou. Quirine Eijkenboom posted a 74, Jisoo Keel 76, Shannon Aubert 77, and Calli Ringsby 78.
The final round will be played Sunday and features an 8:30 a.m. PT shotgun start. Stanford is seeking its ninth win in the tournament and third title in the last five years.