Women's golf sits in fourth at Big Sky Championship

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CHANDLER, Ariz. -- Northern Colorado's women's golf team sits in fourth place after the first round of play at the 2010 Big Sky Conference Golf Championship presented by Black Clover.

Monday's first round at the Ocotillo Golf Resort in Chandler, Ariz., provided a host of low team and individual scores, and the Bears, with a 12-over-par 300 first-day total, sit just six strokes back of leader Northern Arizona (294).

Northern Colorado sophomore Chelsea Silvers finished Monday tied for fifth in the individual standings with a 2-over 74, and her freshman sister Carleigh Silvers and sophomore Ali Nelson, the Big Sky Conference defending individual champion, are two of six golfers tied for eighth with 3-over 75s.

Junior Emily Dougherty finished Monday in a tie for 14th (76), and Abby McNeley is tied for 42nd (85).

Stephanie Kim, the Big Sky Player and Freshman of the Year, led the Lumberjacks with a 3-under-par 69 to take the individual lead, and senior Megan Buck responded with a collegiate-low round of 70.

NAU's six-over-par 294, which tied for the fifth-lowest score in tournament history, wasn't enough to provide a cushion from the competition.

Portland State, led by a 71 from freshman Britney Yada, posted an impressive 295 to sit in second at the end of the day Monday, and Sacramento State came in third at 299.

In 2009, the first year the tournament was played at Ocotillo, just one player broke par. Monday's first round saw three players under par and another at even par.