May 11, 2006
AUBURN, Wash. - The Purdue women's golf team is one stroke out of first place after the first 18 holes of the 2006 NCAA Women's Golf West Regional in Auburn, Wash.
The Boilermakers, who entered the tournament as the third seed, posted a first round 289 (+1). UCLA and host school Washington are tied for the lead after rounds of 288. Purdue is ranked No. 8 in the Golfweek.com Poll. UCLA is No. 2 and fourth-placed Georgia is No. 5.
Purdue has three individuals in the top seven spots and four in the top 25.
Freshman Maria Hernandez is tied for fourth overall after a one-under 71. She recorded three birdies and two bogeys. She played the back nine at one-under par.
Freshman Christel Boeljon and junior Myrte Eikenaar are both tied for seventh place after even-par 72s. Boeljon began her round on fire with four birdies on the front nine. She made the turn at three under and finished one over after four bogeys on the back nine. Eikenaar was one under at the turn and one over on the back nine.
Senior and 2006 Big Ten Golfer of the Year Onnarin Sattayabanphot is tied for 24th after a first-round 74. Her round began with a double-bogey. She made the turn at three over and played the back nine at one under after a birdie on No. 14.
Sophomore Whitney Frykman is tied for 89th after an 81 on Thursday.
The top eight schools after three rounds advance to the NCAA Women's Golf National Championships in Columbus, Ohio. Purdue has advanced to the last six-straight championships.
The tournament is being held at the Washington National Golf Club and hosted by Washington University.
Live scoring of the regional will be carried by golfstat.com.