May 19, 2009
The No. 1 Arizona State women's golf team finished the first round of the NCAA Championships tied for fifth place. The Sun Devils shot a 14-over 302 at the par 72 6,443-yard Caves Valley Golf Club in Owings Mills, Md. The Sun Devils are currently eight shots out of first place Denver.
"Today was obviously not the start we wanted, but we didn't completely put ourselves out of it," said seventh year head coach Melissa Luellen. "The girls know that eight shots in a team format is nothing. There are three days left and on this golf course a lot of things can change."
ASU star freshman Carlota Ciganda carded a 2-over 74 in the first round. Ciganda, who is on a two-tournament win streak, knocked in a birdie on the 13th hole and finished the day tied for 12th. Senior Jennifer Osborn shot a 3-over 75 to finish in a tie for 25th. Osborn tallied one birdie, on the par-5 third hole. Jaclyn Sweeney was the Sun Devils third-best finisher, carding a 4-over 76.
Juliana Murcia shot a 5-over 77 to finish tied for 50th. Murcia hit in a birdie on Hole 13. Defending NCAA Champion Azahara Munoz shot a 6-over 78 in the first round.
"We have to stay patient and play with a little more aggression tomorrow," said Luellen. "We were a little tentative today starting out, trying not to make mistakes. We just can't be afraid to make mistakes."
The Sun Devils tee off tomorrow morning at 8:00 a.m. ET. They are again paired with UCLA and Denver.