WOMEN'S GOLF OPENS COMMANDING LEAD FOLLOWING FIRST ROUND OF BIG SKY CHAMPIONSHIP
4/16/2007
Goodyear, Ariz. – The Sacramento State women’s golf team fired the second lowest round in school history to take the 18-hole lead at the Big Sky Golf Championship on Monday at the Palm Valley Golf Course.
The Hornets carded a 6-over-par 294, the lowest round for the team in the Big Sky Championship. The school record of 293 came at the 2005 at the San Diego State Lady Aztec Fall Classic.
The Hornets, seeking their first Big Sky Championship, are 17 shots ahead of second-place Northern Arizona. The Lumberjacks fired a 311. Weber State played one of its best round of the season with a 312 and is in third place.
Sacramento State senior Margaux Sheehan fired a 1-under-par 71 to take the first-day individual lead. She leads by one shot over teammate Heather LeMaster and Northern Arizona’s Bethany LeClair. Montana State’s Kelly Gillum and Sacramento State’s Kim Coppin are two back at 73.
The Hornets brought back all five golfers who finished third at the Big Sky Championship last year. The group also won the 20-team Bobcat Desert Classic at Palm Valley in March. The championship experience, as well as the course knowledge showed Monday. All five Hornets broke 80, with three of the top five scores belonged to the team in green and gold.
"No question that our two seniors and three juniors, some who have played in this tournament three years in a row is big for us,’’ said Sacramento State coach Adam Pohll. "Also winning (in March) on the same golf course is huge for us. We beat 20 schools, seven of them conference schools. That gave us the confidence we need."
Sheehan, from Anchorage, Alaska, birdied the 500-yard, par-5 second hole, and the 375-yard, par-4 seventh. She made the turn at 1-under-par 35, and then recorded nine pars on the back nine. LeMaster, from Sacramento, was 1-under on the back nine. Coppin, playing in the No. 5 spot, posted a 73 in the first group to finish. Emily Longcrier shot a 78, and Jennifer Parkes carded a 79.
"I told them it was a great start, and we’re not going to change a thing,’’ Pohll said. "We have a game plan and a strategy on this course and we’re not going to change a thing.’’
Tuesday’s second round begins at 7:15 a.m. The final round is Wednesday.
2007 Big Sky Championship First-Day Results Palm Valley Golf Course, Goodyear, Ariz. Par 72, 6,165 yards
Team Scores
1. Sacramento State 294
2. Northern Arizona 311
3. Weber State 312
4. Eastern Washington 318
5. Portland State 320
6. Montana 320
7. Montana State 328
8. Idaho State 329
Goodyear, Ariz. – 
