April 22, 2012
Results and Live Scoring
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. - Freshman Beverly Vatananugulkit shot a 3-over 75 in the first round of the Big West Women's Golf Championship at San Luis Obispo Country on Sunday, leading four Aggies among the top 10 places and No. 22 UC Davis into second place.
Junior Amy Simanton fired a 76 and is tied for sixth, junior Demi Runas and freshman Blair Lewis each had 77 and are tied for ninth, and sophomore Jessica Chulya is tied for 20th after a 79.
The two-time defending champion Aggies shot a collective 17-over 305 on the par-72, 6,169-yard course and trail UC Irvine (300) by five shots. Long Beach State (306) is just a stroke behind UC Davis in third while Cal State Northridge (313), Cal State Fullerton (319), Cal Poly (320) and UC Riverside (322) round out the field.
UC Irvine's Michelle Park leads all individuals after her 1-over 73 while teammate Michelle Yang is a shot back after carding a 74. Long Beach State's Chaewon Park and Noelle Zavaleta joined Vatananugulkit in a tie for third.
Vatananugulkit had eight pars on her front nine and was 2 over before a birdie on the par-5 11th hole brought her back closer to par. She had five pars and two bogeys the rest of the way.
Simanton had three birdies during her round, including one to end her front nine and another to start the back. She capped her round with a birdie on the par-4 18th.
Runas, named the Big West Golfer of the Month for April last week, had two birdies while Lewis had three. They're in an eight-player logjam for ninth. Chulya was 5 over on her first nine holes but had eight pars over the last nine.
The Aggies will play with the 49ers in Monday's second round beginning at 7:30 a.m. The 54-hole tournament, which awards an automatic berth to the NCAA Championships to the winner, concludes on Tuesday.
BIG WEST CHAMPIONSHIP
San Luis Obispo, Calif.
San Luis Obispo Country Club
Par 72, 6,028 yards
18 of 54 holes
TEAMS
1. UC Irvine, 300
2. UC Davis, 305
3. Long Beach State, 306
4. Cal State Northridge, 313
5. Cal State Fullerton, 319
6. Cal Poly, 320
7. UC Riverside, 322
INDIVIDUAL
1. Michelle Park, UC Irvine, 73
UC DAVIS
T3. Beverly Vatananugulkit, 75
T6. Amy Simanton, 76
T9. Demi Runas, 77
T9. Blair Lewis, 77
T20. Jessica Chulya, 79
