HIGHLANDS RANCH, Colo. (Oct. 5, 2018) – The Wyoming women's golf team wrapped up its first day of play at the Ron Moore Women's Intercollegiate on Friday afternoon in sixth overall. Junior Erin Sargent will head into Saturday's second round in a tie for third.
 
"This is a solid, competitive start for us especially in blustery conditions," head coach Josey Stender said. "I'm very proud of the players for staying patient on such quick greens. We are anticipating the course to change drastically with the weather so we will have to prepare for it and stay mentally tough tomorrow."
 
Playing at the par-72, 6,513-yard Highlands Ranch Golf Course, the Cowgirls fired an 11-over 299 in the first round marking their lowest score in a round so far this season. Wyoming is tied with Minnesota in sixth, sitting three strokes out of the top five which features Colorado State (-2, 286), Kansas (+3, 291), Washington State (+7, 295), UC Davis (+8, 296) and UTSA (+8, 296).
 
Sargent was one of four players in the field to shoot under par for her first round, carding a 1-under 71. After teeing off on 10 and getting to the turn at 2-over on the back nine, the Cowgirl junior dropped in three birdies with no bogeys over her final nine holes to finish the day under par.
 
Sargent heads into Saturday's second round tied for third with UC Davis's Samantha Hutchinson, and just one shot behind co-leaders Amy Chu of Washington State and Saga Traustadottir of Colorado State.
 
Cowgirl senior Sarah Hankins also finds herself in the top 20 after her first 18 holes at the event. Hankins turned in a 2-over 74 for her first round to tie for 19^th heading into the second round of play. The Thornton, Colo., native tied with Sargent for the team lead in birdies with four, and approached the last two holes at 1-under before a speedbump at the par-4 eighth.
 
Sophomore Caitlyn Skavdahl and freshman Samantha Hui both carded 77's in their first rounds to tie for 49^th. It marked the lowest round of the season thus far for Hui.
 
Senior Megan Knadler finished up with an 80 for her opening round. She sits in 80^th heading into Saturday's second round.
 
Freshman Michelle Nguyen is the lone Cowgirl competing as an individual this week for Wyoming. She wrapped her round with a 78 to tie for 63^rd after 18 holes.
 
Paired with UC Davis and UTSA, the Cowgirls will tee off for round two at 9:45 a.m.