Buffs Start Stanford Intercollegiate 15th

STANFORD, Calif. – Playing its second tournament in less than a week, the University of Colorado women's golf team recorded a 302 in the first round of the Stanford Intercollegiate on Friday.  
 
Stanford carded an 11-under 273 to take the lead after the first round. Three of Stanford's four scorers finished under par and the fourth recorded an even 71. Arizona State and Southern California are tied for second after both recorded a 282.
 
The Buffaloes, who wrapped up play at the Illini Women's Invitational on Tuesday, struggled a bit as only one golfer, Ellie Gower, finished the round at or below par at the 6,269-yard, par 71 Stanford Golf Course. She fired a 2-under 69 and is tied for sixth. Her 69 tied the ninth-lowest 18-hole score on a par-71 course for the Buffs.  
 
"A bright spot today was Ellie; she played a very solid, consistent round of golf today," head coach Anne Kelly said. "Other than that, this event has been a bit of a struggle with some injuries and illnesses but we plan to regroup, learn from today and improve tomorrow."
 
This is the second time Gower and a few of her teammates have played this course in the last six months. Stanford hosted the 2021 Pac-12 Championships where she tied for 13th. She shot a 70 on the first day of the tournament before recording rounds of 76 and 73 to finish with a 219, which led CU at the championship.
 
Friday's round got off to a great start for the Perth, Scotland native as she sank a birdie on the 501-yard, par 5 No. 1. She made back-to-back pars before recording her second birdie of the day on the fourth hole. Gower finished the front nine at 2-under (33), making par on the remaining five holes.
 
Her back nine started with a bogey, but consecutive birdies on the 11th and 12th holes put her back at 2-under. She made par on the following four holes before recording a second bogey in the round. Gower finished the round by making par on the 18th hole; finishing the back nine with a 36.
 
Second for the Buffs is Hailey Schalk. She is 51st after finishing the day with a 75. She was 3-over through the front nine, making par six times while recording three bogeys, and the back nine was going well. Schalk made par on the first seven holes of the back nine and was at 3-over before she made her first birdie of the day on the 17th hole. But an unfortunate double bogey on the 18th bumped her up to 4-over for the round.
 
Natalie Vo is currently 70th after carding a 78 with two birdies while making par 11 times. Malak Bouraeda shot an 80 with a pair of birdies and is 78th overall. Lauren Gooding is tied for 88th, finishing her day with an 84.
 
Stanford's Rose Zhang shot a 6-under (65) to take the lead after the first day. Four are tied for second after carding a 3-under (68) and another five are tied for sixth (69).
 
The second round of the Stanford Intercollegiate begins on Saturday, October 16, with the morning wave at 8:30 a.m. MT. CU is in the afternoon wave and will tee off from the 10th tee starting at 1:05 p.m. MT.