AUSTIN, Texas (April 30) -- Mari Suursalu and Darcey McRay were among the individual leaders in pacing Central Oklahoma on the first day of the NCAA Division II Women's West Regional here Monday.
Suursalu shot a four-over-par 76 and McRay a 77 to lead the Bronchos to an opening-round 319 at the par-72 The Golf Club at Circle C, leaving UCO 12 shots behind leader Tarleton State.
The TexAnns led the six-team field with a 307 total, followed by Northeastern State (308), tournament host St. Edward's (311), Western Washington (313), UCO and Western New Mexico (323).
Second-round action begins at 8 a.m. Tuesday, with the final round set for an 8 a.m. start Wednesday. The first two teams and top two individuals not on those teams advance to the NCAA Division II Women's Golf Championships May 9-12 in Pensacola, Fla.
Live scoring of the tournament will be available at www.golfstat.com.
"We didn't play too bad, but we had a few holes that really hurt us," UCO coach Patty Coatney said. "Mari and Dacey both played well and we're not of this by any means. You can make up a lot of strokes pretty quickly on this course and I think we'll come out tomorrow and play better."
Suursalu was tied for sixth in the medalist race, while McRay was tied for eighth after the opening round with the Bronchos also getting an 82 from Ashley Miller and 84s from Maria Jimenez and Kylie West.
Suursalu, who won the Lone Star Conference tournament two weeks ago in UCO's last tournament, had a pair of double bogeys on the front nine in making the turn at four-over 40. She went to five-over with a bogey on the par-4 11th hole, but got that shot back with a birdie on the par-3 13th and parred the final five holes for an even-par 36 on the back nine.
McRay also made two front-nine double bogeys in making the turn at five-over 41 before also bogeying No. 11. The freshman got that stroke back with a birdie on the par-4 15th hole in turning in a back-nine 36 to finish at 77.
Miller had consecutive 41s in turning in her 82, while Jimenez and West both shot 42-42 for their 84s.
