WOMEN'S GOLF SIXTH AFTER FIRST ROUND OF BIG SKY CHAMPIONSHIPS
4/21/2008
PHOENIX, Ariz. — One year ago, the Sacramento State women's golf team tied the tournament record and led from wire-to-wire en route to its first Big Sky Conference championship in school history. The Hornets' quest for a repeat became tougher on Monday as the team shot 321 and is currently in sixth place following the first of three rounds from the Foothills Golf Club.
Eastern Washington holds the lead after the opening 18 holes with a team score of 300. Sacramento State also trails Northern Arizona (302), Portland State (306), Northern Colorado (308) and Montana (310).
Freshman Samantha Saffold was the bright spot for the Hornets on Monday. Saffold is tied for fifth overall with a 3-over 75. After bogeying the first hole, Saffold parred the next six and then drew even with a birdie on the par-5 8th hole. However, a double bogey on nine left her 2-over at the turn. From that point, Saffold parred the next five holes before a bogey on 15 moved her to 3-over. The freshman closed out her round with a par on 16, a birdie on 17 and a bogey on 18.
Brooke Green posted the second best score on the team with an 8-over 80. Green parred the first hole but then found herself at 3-over after three with a double bogey on two and a bogey on three. She got back on track, playing the next six holes even and ended the front nine at 3-over. Her back nine featured one birdie, three pars, four bogeys and a double bogey.
Sacramento State also counted identical rounds of 83 from Erica Yoshino and Kim Coppin. One of the more adventurous rounds of the day belonged to Heather LeMaster. The senior was near perfect for 14 holes (playing at 3-over) but was doomed by a four-hole stretch (6th-9th) that left her at 13-over for the round.
Eastern Washington's Kellie Holmstedt holds the individual lead after shooting a 1-under 71. Holmstedt is currently two strokes ahead of Portland State's Hannah Bews.
The second round of the tournament will begin at 6:52 a.m. on Tuesday morning.
TEAM SCORES
1. Eastern Washington 300
2. Northern Arizona 302
3. Portland State 306
4. Northern Colorado 308
5. Montana 310 6. Sacramento State 321
7. Montana State 326
8. Weber State 327
9. Idaho State 336
PHOENIX, Ariz. —
