LITCHFIELD PARK, Ariz. — The Sacramento State women's golf team finds itself in a familiar position, leading the Big Sky Women's Golf Championship following the first round on Monday at Wigwam Golf Club. The Hornets are 2-under as a team and were led by Darla May Dela Torre who holds the individual lead after a 3-under par round of 68.
 
Sacramento State was dealt a blow prior to the beginning of the round as reigning two-time Big Sky Player of the Year Sneha Sharan was scratched from the lineup due to an injury and replaced by sophomore Florencia Dufey. The setback did not slow the team as the Hornets have opened up a five-stroke lead over Montana State. The Bobcats are the only team within striking distance as Montana is third at 11-over, leaving them 13 shots off the lead.
 
Dela Torre, who was recognized as the Big Sky Freshman of the Year on Sunday, recorded her lowest scoring round of the season. Her first birdie came on the par-5 third and she made the turn at 1-under following eight pars on the front nine. Dela Torre surged to the top of the leaderboard with birdies on the par-5 10^th and par-4 11^th and 12^th to get to 4-under. Her lone bogey of the round came on the par-4 16^th. Her total places her one shot ahead of Montana State's Scarlet Weidig and Eastern Washington's Gabriella Ilardi. The pair are part of nine golfers who are within three shots of Dela Torre after the first day.
 
Dela Torre's score is tied for the best by a Hornet in the first round of the Big Sky Championship, matching Jennifer Koga's mark from 2022. Dela Torre is also tied for second in scores relative to par by a Sacramento State golfer in the first round of the Big Sky Championship.
 
Two of those in contention are Tova Hatton and Caitlin Maurice who were both even (71) during the first round. Hatton had the best start for the Hornets as she was 2-under par on the front nine. The freshman started with a birdie on No. 1 but dropped back to even with a bogey on the par-3 second. She alternated birdies on pars on the next six holes to get to 3-under before closing the front side with a bogey on the par-3 ninth. Hatton finished her round with seven pars and a pair of bogeys on the back nine.
 
Maurice took a nearly opposite route to get to the same score. The senior had seven pars and two bogeys on the front nine but returned to even with an eagle on the 492-yard, par-5 10^th. She then posted three pars, bogeyed No. 14, had three more pars and ended with a birdie on the par-5 18^th.
 
Dufey had bogeys on two of the first four holes but adjusted quickly to her new role in the lineup by playing her final 14 holes at 1-under. Her streak began with a birdie on the par-5 fifth and she stood at 2-over at the midway point of her round following a bogey on No. 8. Dufey birdied the par-5 10^th and remained at 1-over following a bogey on the par-3 13^th and a birdie on the par-4 14^th. Her score ties her for 10^th place in the field. The team matches the score from the first rounds of 2023 and 2024 and is tied for the third lowest by Sacramento State at the conference tournament.
 
Ella Kraft is tied for 20^th following a 75. Kraft bogeyed No. 2 and then had seven straight pars. She began the back nine with bogeys on Nos. 10 and 11 and remained at 3-over until her first birdie on the par-4 14^th. A bogey on No. 16 was followed by a double bogey on the par-3 17^th to get her to 5-over but she recovered a shot with a birdie on the par-5 18^th.
 
The tournament continues with the second round beginning at 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday. Sacramento State will be in the final five pairings and will start its day at 8:40 a.m. The Hornets will be paired with Montana State and Montana in the second round.
 
BIG SKY WOMEN'S GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP
Litchfield Park, Ariz. | Wigwam GC
Par 71 | 5,948 Yards
 
Team Standings
1. Sacramento State 282
2. Montana State 297
3. Montana 295
4. Northern Arizona 297
5. Idaho 298
6. Eastern Washington 300
7. Weber State 301
8. Northern Colorado 302
9. Portland State 303
 
Individual Top Five
1. Darla May Dela Torre, SAC, 68
T2. Scarlet Weidig, MSU, 69
T2. Gabriella Ilardi, EWU, 69
T4. Maddie Montoya, MSU, 70
T4. Raina Ports, UM, 70
 
Sacramento State Scores
1. Darla May Dela Torre 68
T6. Tova Hatton 71
T6. Caitlin Maurice 71
T10. Florencia Dufey 72
T20. Ella Kraft 75