SMU women’s golf finished the first day of the NCAA Women’s Golf Championship in a tie for eighth place on May 22 at Omni La Costa Resort in Carlsbad, California.
The team’s performance puts them among the top eight out of thirty teams competing, an important position as only the top eight will advance to match play quarterfinals after four rounds. The Mustangs are currently tied with Texas and LSU for eighth place. There will be a cut to fifteen teams after round three.
“Solid first round,” said fifth-year head coach. “Conditions were tougher this afternoon. We have three players making their first national championship appearance. We are right in the mix and are excited to get after it tomorrow with an early morning tee time.”
Three SMU players completed their rounds at or below par, with each Mustang shooting a score of 74 or better on day one. A freshman led the team with a score of 71, bogeying just once during her round and now holding a share of 24th place among all competitors while lowering her season scoring average to 73.38—third lowest by an SMU freshman.
Two other Mustangs shot even par rounds and are tied at 41st place individually; one was three-under through six holes following an eagle on No. 6, finishing with a front nine score of 33, while another birdied her last hole to reach even par for the tournament and maintains the best career scoring average in SMU history at 71.48.
One shot back, another Mustang carded a score of 73 (tied for 60th), also eagling hole six, while another finished with a score of 74 (86th place). The Mustangs return Saturday for round two as they aim to continue their strong season.
