WOMEN'S GOLF IN FIFTH PLACE AFTER FIRST DAY OF BIG SKY CHAMPIONSHIPS
4/18/2011
CHANDLER, Ariz. — Senior Samatha Saffold shot 76 and is tied for ninth place to lead the Sacramento State women's golf team in the first round of the Big Sky Conference Championships on Monday at the Ocatillo Golf Resort.
The Hornets shot 312 as a team and are currently in fifth place. Portland State combined to shoot 303 and has a 1-stroke lead over Northern Arizona and Montana. Northern Colorado is fourth at 308.
"I thought the course played well today. The conditions are very similar to what we had two years ago," Sacramento State head coach David Sutherland said. "We simply need lower scores. Tomorrow we'll be looking for something that will change the landscape."
Saffold was the most consistent of the five Sacramento State golfers in the opening round. The senior had six pars and three bogeys through the opening nine holes and then added four more pars to start the back nine. A double-bogey on the par-4 14th was followed by three more pars before Saffold closed her day with a birdie on the par-5 18th.
Sophomore Kercia Brakel shot 77 and is tied for 14th. Brakel's round, which was her third lowest of the season, began with her playing even (two birdies, four pars, two bogeys) through the first eight holes. A double-bogey on the par-4 ninth left her at 2-over at the turn and she then parred the next three holes. Brakel ended her round with three pars and three bogeys over the final six holes.
Julie Shutler is tied for 21st after shooting 79. The junior's round was up-and-down, carding just seven pars. The Manteca, Calif., native began the day with a bogey on the par-5 first and then ran off three straight pars. From there, she had a stretch of bogey, birdie, bogey, bogey, birdie which left her at 2-over at the midway point of her round. On the back, Shutler mixed four pars with five bogeys.
The team also counted an 80 from Kristen Watson, who is tied for 26th. Watson started her round with four straight bogeys but bounced back with three consecutive pars. A double-bogey on the par-4 eighth was followed by a birdie on the par-4 ninth to give her a 41 at the turn. Watson parred the 10th hole but followed with three more bogeys. She played the final five holes even, with the help of a birdie on the par-3 16th.
TEAM SCORES
1. Portland State 303
T2. Northern Arizona 304
T2. Montana 304
4. Northern Colorado 308 5. Sacramento State 312
6. Montana State 319
7. Weber State 321
8. Eastern Washington 322
9. Idaho State 335
INDIVIDUAL TOP FIVE
1. Britney Yada, PSU, 72
T2. Ashli Helstrom, UM, 73
T2. Lauren Howell, UM, 73
T2. Bethany Leclair, NAU, 73
T5. Kalyn Dodge, PSU, 74
T5. Ali Nelson NC, 74
T5. Kaitlen Parsons, NAU, 74
T5. Chelsea Silvers, NC, 75
