BALANCED SCORING PUTS WOMEN'S GOLF IN THIRD PLACE FOLLOWING FIRST ROUND OF BIG SKY CHAMPIONSHIP

CHANDLER, Ariz. — The Sacramento State women's golf team counted four scores of 75 and is in third place following the first round of the Big Sky Women's Golf Championships on Sunday at Ocotillo Golf Resort.

The Hornets were in the first groups off the first tee beginning at 6:30 a.m. The early tee time did not seem to have an effect as Sagee Palavivatana, Kercia Brakel, Tiffany Nichols and Lisa Persson each finished with a 3-over par 75. The Hornets' team score of 300 places it 10 strokes behind Portland State for the lead. Northern Arizona sits in second at 299 while Eastern Washington and Weber State each totaled 301 and are tied for fourth.

The Hornet foursome are in a tie for 15th place and each are five strokes behind Portland State's Britney Yada who shot 70. Three others, including two from PSU, recorded a round of 71.

Palavivatana had the most consistent round among the Hornets as the sophomore had 15 pars and three bogeys. She began her round with eight consecutive pars before bogeying Nos. 9 and 10. She also had a bogey on the par-4 15th.

Brakel was 3-over at the turn with three bogeys and six pars over her first nine holes. Two pars began second half of the round before she birdie the par-3 12th. A bogey on the par-4 14th and five pars ended her day.

Nichols was 1-under after a birdie on the par-3 fourth. However, she bogeyed five of the next six holes and was 4-over through 10. A birdie on No. 12 and four pars kept her at 3-over before she closed her day with a bogey on No. 17 and a birdie on the par-5 18th.

Persson had a birdie on the par-3 seventh, six pars and two bogeys to begin her day. A double bogey on the par-3 12th took her to 3-over where she finished with the help of a birdie on No. 18.

Freshman Natalie Bodnar shot 78 and is tied for 26th. Bodnar started slowly and was 5-over through eight holes with four pars, three bogeys and a double bogey. She birdied the par-4 ninth and parred the next four holes. A bogey on No. 14 was followed by a birdie on the par-4 15th before two more pars. Her round ended with a double bogey on No. 18.

Sacramento State will have a later start on Monday as it will be grouped with Portland State and Northern Arizona. The first group will go off at 8:45 a.m.

Big Sky Women's Championship
Ocotillo Golf Resort | Chandler, Ariz.
Par 72 | 6,169 Yards

TEAM STANDINGS
1. Portland State 290
2. Northern Arizona 299
3. SACRAMENTO STATE 300
T4. Eastern Washington 301
T4. Weber State 301
6. Northern Colorado 304
7. Southern Utah 306
T8. Montana 322
T8. Montana State 322
10. North Dakota 330
11. Idaho State 347

INDIVIDUAL TOP FIVE
1. Britney Yada, PSU, 70
T2. A Ram Choi, PSU, 71
T2. Riley Lemong, PSU, 71
T2. Olivia Weber, UM, 71
T5. Marissa Borja, EWU, 73
T5. Paige Crawford, MSU, 73
T5. Sadie Palmer, SUU, 73
T5. Kaitlen Parsons, NAU, 73
T5. Carleigh Silvers, NC, 73
T5. Darian Spivey, NAU, 73

SACRAMENTO STATE SCORES
T15. Sagee Palavivatana 75
T15. Kercia Brakel 75
T15. Tiffany Nichols 75
T15. Lisa Persson 75
T26. Natalie Bodnar 78