Stanford's Rose Zhang (Darren Reese/TGA)
The cream rose to the top at the NCAA Women's Golf Championships on Friday, where top-ranked Stanford holds the top spot in the qualifying rounds and freshman
Rose Zhang, the top-ranked female amateur in the world, has the early lead among the individuals.
Behind Zhang and
Sadie Englemann, Stanford opened the tournament with a 1-over score of 289, good for a three-shot lead over Texas A&M at 4-over. The wind, at times, gusted to 30 miles per hour throughout Friday's round and the Cardinal was seven strokes better than any other team who played in the day's second wave.
Zoe Slaughter, Texas A&M Three regional winners -- Florida State (t-4), Oregon (7th) and USC (t-8th) -- are currently sitting in the top eight, while three others -- Baylor (t-12), San Jose State (+19) and Vanderbilt (+20) -- are currently on the outside looking in.
Following four rounds of stroke play, the top eight teams advance to match play to decide the national champion.
Playing in the desert afternoon heat, Zhang turned in a brilliant opening round of 68 to take the first-round lead by a stroke over
Zoe Slaughter of Texas A&M. Englemann, is tied for third at 1-under.
• • • • •
At a Glance: Day One at Grayhawk
Top Eight Teams as of Today: 1. Stanford (+1); 2. Texas A&M (+4); 3. UCLA (+7); t-4. Auburn (+8); LSU; Florida State; 7. Oregon (+9); t-8. Alabama (+10); USC.
The Next Five: 10. Mississippi State (+12); 11. TCU (+12); t-12. Wake Forest (+13); Michigan; Purdue; Baylor.
Some Work to Do: 16. Arizona State (+15); 20. South Carolina (+18); t-21. Oklahoma State (+19); San Jose State.
Top Five Individuals: 1. Rose Zhang, Stanford (-4); 2. Zoe Slaughter, Texas A&M (+12); t-3. Sabrina Igbal, TCU (-1); Ty Akabana, UCLA; Sadie Englemann, Stanford.
ABOUT THE NCAA Division I Women's Championship
30 teams and 6 individuals not on a qualifying
team make up the field for the championship of
NCAA
Division I women's golf.
After 72 holes of stroke play, the individual
champion is crowned, and the low 8 teams advance
to
match play to determine the team champion.
View Complete Tournament Information