By Lindsay Gaesser, SDA Media Relations

CLE ELUM, Wash.—After the first round of play at the NCAA West Regional, the sixth-ranked Arizona State women’s golf team is in third place behind top-ranked Southern California and No. 11 Washington.  The Sun Devils shot a 1-over 289 at the par-72, 6,252-yard Tumble Creek Club at Suncadia Resort in Cle Elum, Wash.

Top-ranked Southern California sits atop both leader boards after the first round.  USC sophomore Kyung Kim is in first place after shooting a blistering 6-under 66.  The Women of Troy lead the pack with a 4-under 284 and are the only team under par after Thursday’s round.   

Junior Noemi Jimenez caught fire on the back nine carding five birdies en route to a 5-under 67. Jimenez, currently ranked fourth in the nation by Golfstat, is tied for second place with Texas A&M’s Marijosse Navarro.    

As expected, senior Justine Lee delivered a solid performance in the first round.  Lee finished the day tied for 12th place after shooting an even-par 72.  Not far behind in 24th place is freshman Monica Vaughn with a 2-over 74.  Vaughn had a slow start with three bogeys on the front nine, but carded birdies on holes eight and 14.

Through 18 holes, junior Emilie Alonso is tied for 45th place with a 4-over 76.  Senior Laura Blanco struggled to find her groove in Thursday’s round, carding three bogeys and two double bogeys in the first 11 holes.  Blanco finished strong with birdies on 15 and 17, which tied her for 62nd place with a 5-over 77.     

Second round action is scheduled to begin at 7:30 a.m. PT Friday.  Live scoring for the NCAA West Regional is available at www.golfstat.com.