LITCHFIELD PARK, Ariz. — Sneha Sharan, Jennifer Koga and Caitlin Maurice each shot a 1-under par round of 70 to help Sacramento State to a six-stroke lead following the first round of the Big Sky Conference Championship on Monday at Wigwam Golf Resort.

The Hornets finished the day at 2-under par as a team and were the only team to end in red numbers during the day. Weber State is in second place at 4-over while Montana is third. Sacramento State's total of 282 ranks as the third-lowest performance for any round in school history at the Big Sky Championship and ties the record for the best in an opening round. The trio of Sharan, Koga and Maurice equaled the fourth-lowest first round score by a Hornet at the conference tournament.

Maurice, who was the medalist at last year's championship, was even through the first nine holes. She opened with a birdie on the first hole and dropped to 2-under with a birdie on the par-5 third. A double bogey on the next hole and a bogey on the par-4 eighth took her to 1-over before she birdied the par-3 ninth. She started the back nine with a birdie but moved back over far following a double bogey on the par-3 13th. Maurice fell to even with a birdie on the 14th and ended her round with a birdie on the par-5 18th.

Koga and Sharan started strong with each recording birdies on Nos. 1, 3 and 5. Koga was 1-under at the turn with bogeys on Nos. 8 and 9 while Sharan gave a stroke back on the ninth to stand at 2-under. On the back nine, Koga began with a birdie but followed with consecutive bogeys on Nos. 11 and 12. She parred her next four holes until a birdie on the par-3 17th to get her to 1-under.

Ashley Koga added a round of 72 to provide the fourth score towards the team total. The freshman parred the first six holes but made the turn at 2-over following bogeys on Nos. 7 and 8. Her first birdie came on the par-5 10th to get her to 1-over. A double bogey on the par-3 13th was followed by a birdie on the par-4 14th. After three pars, she ended her round with a birdie on the par-5 18th.

Ella Kraft recorded a round of 73 and is just five strokes off the lead. The sophomore parred the first four holes before a birdie on the par-5 fifth. Bogeys on Nos. 8 and 8 left her 1-over at the midway point of her round and she eventually rose to 3-over after bogeys on Nos. 12 and 13. A birdie on the par-4 14th dropped her back to 2-over and she closed with four pars.

Montana's Elle Higgins holds the individual lead after shooting a career-best 68. Sharan, Koga and Maurice are in a five-way tie for second.

BIG SKY CHAMPIONSHIP
Litchfield Park, Ariz. | Wigwam Golf Resort
Par 71 | 5,948 Yards

Team Standings
1. Sacramento State 282
2. Weber State 28
T3. Northern Arizona 293
T3. Montana 293
5. Idaho State 294
T6. Eastern Washington 295
T6. Montana State 295
8. Northern Colorado 296
9. Portland State 297
10. Idaho 298

Individual Top Five
1. Elle Higgins, UM, 68
T2. Sneha Sharan, SAC, 70
T2. Jennifer Koga, SAC, 70
T2. Caitlin Maurice, SAC, 70
T2. Meghan Singh, EWU, 70
T2. Isabel Gutierrez, WSU, 70

Sacramento State Scores
T2. Sneha Sharan 70
T2. Jennifer Koga 70
T2. Caitlin Maurice 70
T12. Ashley Koga 72
T16. Ella Kraft 73