May 18, 2011
BRYAN, Texas - Stanford shot an opening round 308 (+20) and is tied for 20th place after the first round of the NCAA Women's Golf Championships being held in Bryan, Texas.
The Cardinal is 19 strokes off the pace set by first round leader UCLA, which shot a one-over team score of 289 on the par-72 Traditions Club layout.
Virginia is in second place at 291 while defending champion Purdue and LSU are tied for third at 292. Florida rounds out the top five at 294.
Host Texas A&M is in sixth plae at 295 (+7).
Virginia's Brittany Altomare shot a 3-under 69 on Wednesday and holds a one stroke lead over three golfers after the first round.
Stanford sophomore Sally Watson, who finished ninth in this event last year, shot an opening round 73 and is tied for 23rd after the first 18 holes. Watson managed just one birdie against two bogeys on her first round card.
Kristina Wong and Lila Barton are tied for 81st after each player shot opening round scores of 78.
Starting on hole No. 10, Wong made the turn at one over par but made three straight bogeys to start her second nine. She also made a double bogey on the par 5 eighth hole, her 17th hole of the day.
Barton picked up two birdies over her first nine holes and made the turn at even par before running into trouble on the backside. She made a bogey on the 12th hole and then doubled holes No. 16 and 18 to finish with a 78.
Rebecca Durham and Marissa Mar each shot opening round 79s and are tied for 98th place.
Collectively, Stanford played the front nine (second nine of the day) at 21 over par.
Stanford will once again be paired with Washington and Florida for Thursday's second round. All three teams will tee off on hole No. 1.