Big West Champion Long Beach State and UC Irvine, along with two UC Davis golfers, battled 100 degree heat in the first round of the NCAA West Regional at the Karsten Golf Course on the campus of Arizona State University. Led by 2009 Big West Women's Golfer of the Year Jane Chin, the Anteaters concluded day one knotted in fifth place after a team total of 289. The 49ers sit in a six-way tie for 13th after registering an 11-over-par 299.
The top seeded Sun Devils were the only team that finished under par today as they fired a 15-under 273 to hold a comfortable 15-stroke lead over three teams that are tied for second place, Arizona, Texas and Texas A&M.
Chin paced the UC Irvine women's golf team with a five-under-par 67 in the first round of the three-day event, tying her for second place. The Anteaters carded a 289 to tie USC, Arkansas and TCU for fifth place. Joy Trotter is in 32nd place after shooting 73 and is followed by Lalita Patipaksiri in 44th after firing a two-over 74. Hillary Packard shot 74 to tie for 54th and Patty Chawalitmetha sits 86th with a total of 78.
Leading the way for the 49ers are senior All-American Kay Hoey and freshman Lee Lopez, who finished the day tied for 32nd with a one-over 73. Sophomore Reina Rogers finished third for Long Beach State as she tied for 67th with a four-over 76. Brenda Chhuor tied for 81st with a five-over 77 and Lindsey McAtee finished with a 12-over 84 as she’s currently tied for 105th.
Alice Kim and Chelsea Stelzmiller, participating in their second straight NCAA Championship event, opened the tournament with a two-over-par 74. Kim started strong, posting a birdie on her first hole and then got to two-under after five holes. However, a pair of double-bogeys put her at two-over before a pair of birdies and two bogeys kept her there the rest of the day. Stelzmiller was three shots over par after seven holes but started her back nine with a birdie and after bogeying the second hole she got back to two-over with a birdie.
Eighteen holes are scheduled for both Friday and Saturday with the top eight teams following three rounds advancing to the NCAA Championship at Caves Valley Golf Club in Owings Mills, Md., May 19-22. Live action of the NCAA West Regional can be followed at www.golfstat.com.