Women's Golf T10th After First Round of NCAA Stanford Regional

May 5, 2016

Stanford, Calif.-- The San José State women's golf team finished the first round of the NCAA Stanford Regional with a 299 Thursday afternoon at the par-71 Stanford Golf Course. The Spartans are currently tied for 10th with San Diego State and Ohio State.

The Spartans started the day on the 10th hole and took advantage of the back-nine holes, shooting even par as a team after nine holes. The team made 11 birdies on holes 10-18, but had just three over the team's final nine holes (#1-9). The two toughest holes of the day, #6 and #9, were problems for San José State as the team was +5 on #6 and +6 on #9.

The first-round 299 is the best start for the Spartans at a regional since the 2009 West Regional where the team finished 13th out of 21 teams.

"We played really well today over our first nine holes," said Spartan coach John Dormann. "We were making putts for the first time all semester. Now, we just have to take advantage of the par opportunities on holes 1-9, especially on the par 5s (#1 & #7)."

My Leander led the Spartans with a two-over 73, and is tied for 26th. Over her first nine holes, she was three-under with five birdies made. After starting bogey-par, she began her birdie brigade on the par-5 #12, and followed with another on the par-4 #13. After a bogey on #14, Leander went birdie-par-birdie-birdie to end her first nine holes at three-under 33. Over her final nine holes (#1-9), she was five over par and did not make a birdie.

"It was fun making those birdies on my first nine holes," said Leander. "I had a lot of confidence and a good attitude when I walked out to the course. After starting with a bogey, I knew I could do better. When I made birdies, I hit the ball close to the hole, usually within 12 feet, with my irons. I just walked up and knew I could make the putt. It was good to defeat the birdie drought we have had this season.

"I know I can do better on holes 1-9. Those holes are always a little tougher for me. Today, I just lost my focus and forgot how to make birdies on those holes."

Elizabeth Schultz shot a 74 and is tied for 36th. She started the round with three consecutive bogeys but then make four pars and two birdies (#14 & #15) to finish her first nine holes at one-over par. Schultz went par-birdie before a bogey on #3 put her at one-over par. The only other blemish on her card with a double bogey on #6 to leave her shooting a 74.

Regan De Guzman, Alexandra Cooper and Abegail Arevalo each shot a 76 and are tied for 52nd. De Guzman started the day with her only birdie of the round and made 12 pars. Cooper started par-par-birdie-bogey before making seven consecutive pars. She made a birdie on #3 to go to one-under, but a double bogey on #4, a bogey on #5 and a triple-bogy on #9 left her at five-over. Arevalo made three birdies and nine pars, but a triple bogey on #18 and three other bogeys had her at 76.

"Alex played some of her best golf of the season," said Dormann. "She is disappointed in the way her round finished which I think is good motivation for the rest of the regional."

Southern California leads the regional after shooting a three-over 287, followed by Virginia at 288 and Stanford at 289. The top-six teams after the three-round regional advance to the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore., May 20-24. The Spartans are just four shots out of sixth place after the first round (Colorado and Wake Forest at 295).

Individually, Katrina Predergast from Colorado State shot a three-under 68 and has a one shot lead over Mariah Stackhouse from Stanford and Jakeishya Le from UC Riverside.

Second round action for the Spartans begins Friday morning at 7:30 a.m., off of hole #10, with Mountain West foe San Diego State and Ohio State.

NCAA Stanford Regional

Stanford Golf Course

Par 71, 6,269 yards

Team Standings (after round 1)

Individual Standings

San José State Results

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