Lopes open with lead at the WAC Championship

Monday, April 16

Phoenix, Ariz.

Grand Canyon

WAC Championship

Photo by: Travis Neely

4/16/2018 4:13:00 PM | Women's Golf

By: Mark Oshidari

ROUND 1 RESULTS

PHOENIX – The Grand Canyon women's golf team fired the top round of the day to lead the Western Athletic Conference Championship with a school-record 285 score. The Lopes lead by two shots over Seattle and five shots over Utah Valley and New Mexico State.

"Today was a great start to the WAC Championship," said head coach Lauren Giesecke. "With this being our first WAC, there were some nerves that came into play today, but we quickly let that go and started playing our game."

There were only four rounds under par during the opening round, two belonging to the Lopes and two to the Redhawks.

Siripatsorn Patchana had three birdies and one bogey, en route to a 69 (2-under-par). She is tied for the first round lead with Vendela From of Seattle.

Deanna Salvatori birdied three of her first four holes and added another on the eighth hole to shoot a front-nine 33. Salvatori had seven pars on the final nine to finish with a 70 (1-under-par), good for third-place.

"I'm proud of this team and how far we have come this year," said Giesecke. "We feel that there were some shots and putts that got away from us, but ecstatic that we have another school record in the books! It's been impressive to be a long side this team and we know the best is yet to come."

Alexis Linam birdied her first hole and finished with a solid 73 to finish in the top-10 in ninth-place.

Carolina Sandstrom was three-over after two holes and played the rest of her 16 holes under par. Sandstrom also finished with a 73 and a tie with teammate Linam for ninth-place.

Courtney Vogel finished with a 78, but takes momentum into tomorrow's second-round after recording a birdie on her final hole.

"Tomorrow we will need to go out and play our game, stay patient, and focus on what we can control," said Giesecke. "We have prepared for this all year, so I know the team is looking forward to getting back out in the morning."

For the second-round at the Legacy Golf Resort, the Lopes will tee off between 9:00 – 9:40 a.m. Vogel will tee off at 9, followed by Sandstrom (9:10), Linam (9:20), Salvatori (9:30) and Patchana (9:40).