Sept. 18, 2008
Dick McGuire Invitational (live scoring) ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- Senior
Brittany Smith and sophomore
Alice Kim each shot even-par 73's on Thursday during the first round of the Dick McGuire Invitational at the University of New Mexico and are tied for sixth among individuals, leading UC Davis into fourth place just six shots behind leader Pepperdine.
The Aggies returned to the par-73, 6,176-yard UNM Championship Course for their season-opener after finishing last season at the same course during the NCAA Division I Championships where they finished 21st. Their 6-over 298 equals their best score from the national championships in May which were hampered by high winds.
Pepperdine, behind individual co-leader Jayvie Agojo, is even after a 292 team score and owns a two-shot advantage over host New Mexico. Wyoming is in third at 297, one shot in front of the Aggies. Texas, TCU, UNLV and Colorado are tied for fifth, three shots back of UC Davis.
Pepperdine is ranked No. 8 in the preseason by Golfweek while New Mexico is No. 19. Unranked UC Davis leads No. 23 TCU and No. 27 UNLV.
Smith played a steady round for the Aggies on Thursday, finishing with 14 pars. A birdie on the par-5 18th gave her a 1-under 35 on the back and brought her to even for the round. Kim, who was 1 under at the turn, had two birdies and three bogey's on the back, including one of each over the final two holes, to bring her to a 73.
Like Smith, Sisler finished with 14 pars, playing the front nine even and then carding a pair of bogeys on the back. Stelzmiller was 2 over on each of her nine holes, highlighting her day with a birdie on the par-5 5th hole. Johnson had a tough time on the front, picking up just three pars but played much stronger on the back with seven consecutive pars.
Kasey Claussen of Colorado is tied with Agojo atop the leaderboard after one round.
UC Davis will begin teeing off on Friday at 7:40 a.m. (Pacific). The 16-tournament concludes on Saturday.
DICK McGUIRE INVITATIONAL hosted by the University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, N.M.
UNM Championship Course
par 73, 6,167 yards
18 of 54 holes
TEAM
1. Pepperdine, 292
2. New Mexico, 294
3. Wyoming, 297
4. UC DAVIS, 298
T5. Texas, 301
T5. TCU, 301
T5. UNLV, 301
T5. Colorado, 301
9. Colorado State, 302
10. Indiana, 303
T11. BYU, 309
T11. Campbell, 309
T13. UTEP, 314
T13. Hawaii, 314
T13. San Diego State, 314
16. New Mexico State, 315
INDIVIDUALS
T1. Jayvie Agojo, Pepperdine, 71
T1. Kasey Claussen, Colorado State, 71
UC DAVIS
