ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Albane Valenzuela fired a 1-under 71 and teammates Casey Danielson and Shannon Aubert matched par to help the top-ranked Stanford women's golf team place second Monday after the opening round of the 54-hole NCAA Albuquerque Regional at the University of New Mexico Championship Course.
Counting the best four out of five scores, the Cardinal combined for a 2-over 290 and is three shots behind pacesetter Pepperdine (287). USC, Cal and Washington are tied for third at 7-over 295.
Eighteen teams and eight individuals are competing, with the top six squads and three individuals not members of those teams advancing to next week's NCAA Championships at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Illinois.
Paired with Duke and USC, Stanford got off to a great start, as the team turned in 6-under. Aubert, a junior, and Danielson, a senior, played the front side in 3-under 33.
The back nine proved tougher, although Aubert birdied the par-4 10th hole – her third in a row – to lift the Card to 7-under. From there, only Valenzuela managed another birdie, that coming at the par-3 16th hole.
The freshman from Geneva, Switzerland is third individually, two shots behind Laura Kowohl of North Carolina State (69) and one back of Tatiana Wijaya of Pepperdine (70). Only three players in the field of 88 broke par.
Aubert produced a team-high four birdies and Danielson added three. They share fourth after posting 72s.
Freshman Andrea Lee had was even par through 15 holes, but bogeyed 16 and double-bogeyed 17 to finish with 75 and is tied for 30th. Sophomore Sierra Kersten shot 77 and is tied for 63rd.
The second round will be played Tuesday. Stanford starts off the first tee from 8:09-8:45 a.m. PT with Pepperdine and USC.
To follow live scoring, visit GoStanford.com.