STILLWATER, OKLA. – Stanford rebounded from a rough start Friday to tie for 16th after the first round of the NCAA Women's Golf Championships at toasty Karsten Creek Golf Club.
After recording only one sub-40 score and three birdies on the front nine, the Cardinal rallied for four scores of 2-over or better on the back side and tallied six birdies.
An early afternoon starter with Duke and USC, Stanford combined for a best four-out-of-five total of 20-over 308. The Lady Trojans collected the best opening round with a 3-over 291.
The Cardinal is five strokes out of 10th.
All schools play three rounds of stroke play, with the top 15 advancing to the last round of stroke on Monday. The low eight advance to match play on Tuesday.
Stanford won its first NCAA title in 2015, finished second in 2016 and tied for third in 2017.
Senior Shannon Aubert and sophomore Albane Valenzuela sparked the Cardinal on Friday with 4-over 76s and are tied for 51st individually. Valenzuela made three back nine birdies and chalked up a 1-under 35.
Sophomore Andrea Lee (t-68) shot 77, sophomore Ziyi Wang (t-89) 79 and freshman Mika Liu (t-124) 85.
Jennifer Kupcho of Wake Forest is the individual leader with a 7-under 65.
Stanford begins second round play Saturday morning on the 10th tee with Duke and USC.
Live scoring is available at GoStanford.com.
