FORT COLLINS, Colo. – The Wyoming women's golf team sits in tied in fifth place after 18 holes at the season-opening Ptarmigan Ram Classic, wrapping up the first round with a 13-over 301 on Monday at the par-72 6,466-yard Ptarmigan Country Club.
Four of the five Pokes in the Wyoming lineup sit in the top 30 individually after the first day of play led by
Kaylee Knadler, who is tied for ninth. Boise State leads the field at 5-over with a 293 first round, followed by Nevada (+8, 296) in second, San Francisco (+11, 299) in third and fourth-place Nebraska (+12, 300). The Cowgirls are tied in fifth with Portland State to round out the top five on the team scoreboard.
"I'm very pleased with the resilience and patience we showed today, head coach
Josey Stender said. "It was great to see Kaylee play so confidently and aggressively. We got off to a shaky start but rallied and took advantage of the more score-able part of the course. The course is playing very firm and fast so we will need to continue to adjust accordingly."
Knadler was the low Cowgirl on the team's first day in Fort Collins, carding a 1-over 73 to sit five shots back of clubhouse leader Tara Finigan of Boise State. Teeing off on No. 10, the redshirt junior got to the turn at 2-over. Knadler would finish well, dropping three birdies over the final nine to card a 1-under 35 on the front.
Sophomore
Caitlyn Skavdahl sank three birdies over the course of her first round to tie for 27
th at 4-over.
Erin Sargent also is in the clubhouse at 4-over, overcoming a couple of speedbumps on the fourth and 13
th holes by recording a team-high four birdies to finish with a 76.
Megan Knadler is also tied for 27
th with Sargent and Skavdahl after a 76 for her first round.
Cowgirl freshman
Samantha Hui carded a 12-over 84 for the first collegiate round of her career, tying for 72
nd.
Along with the five players in the lineup, Wyoming has three Cowgirls competing as individuals this week. Senior Sarah Hankings turned in an 8-over 80 for her first round to tie for 55
th. Freshman
Cristiana Ciasca sits in 67
th after an 11-over 83, and freshman
Michelle Nguyen scored an 84 to tie with Hui in 72
nd.
Paired with Nebraska and Portland State, Wyoming will tee off for the tournament's second round tomorrow morning at 9:20 a.m. MT.
