May 20, 2008
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - The sixth-ranked Purdue women's golf team fired a 298 (+10) in the opening round of the 2008 NCAA Women's Golf Championships and is in a five-way tie for 13th place with three rounds to play. The tournament is being held May 20 to 23 at the University of New Mexico Championship Golf Course in Albuquerque, N.M. The Boilermakers are tied with Arkansas, UC Davis, Texas and Texas Christian.
Top-ranked Southern California is in first place after firing the only below par team score, a four-under 284. No. 2 UCLA is tied for second with No. 11 Auburn after both squads carded 289 (+1) on Tuesday. Defending national champions, third-ranked Duke, is one stroke behind Purdue with an 11-over par 299, putting them in 18th place.
The Boilermakers were led by freshman Maude-Aimee Leblanc. The 6-foot-1 Sherbrooke, Quebec, native carded an even-par 72 with a round that included six birdies and six bogeys. LeBlanc is tied for 15th.
Junior Christel Boeljon is tied for 23rd after firing a one-over par 73. Boeljon, last year's NCAA runner-up, birdied three of the four par five's in the first round. Junior Maria Hernandez opened with a two-over 74 and is tied for 44th place.
Freshman Junthima Gulyanamitta carded a 79 on Tuesday and is tied for 106th and junior Stephanie Oukeo is tied for 111th after firing an 80 in the first round.
Wake Forest's Nannette Hill is in first place after firing a five-under par 67on Tuesday.
Purdue will be paired again in the second round with third-ranked Duke and No. 5 Arizona State. The Boilermakers will begin teeing off on hole No. 10 at 10:50 a.m. ET. Full results and live scoring of Wednesday's round can be found at golfstat.com.