ARROYO GRANDE, Calif., Nov. 1 - Southern Utah's women's golf team was in ninth place after the first round of Cal Poly's Lamkin Grip Invitational golf tournament Sunday. The Thunderbirds shot 27-over par 315 in the first round at par 72, 6,046-yard Cypress Ridge Golf Club to sit 17 shots off the pace of leader Xavier.

            Sophomore Sadie Palmer led the way for the Thunderbirds at 2-over 74, three shots off the pace of Xavier's Breanna Patz and Sacramento State's Samantha Saffold. SUU's Mikayla Williamson was also among the leaders in the 16-team field, tied for 20^th, at 77.

            SUU's Kacy Buckner was 40^th, at 80, while Morgan Kerber (84, 67^th) and Jamie Coking (92, 88^th) rounded out the Thunderbirds' entry. Southern Utah's Brittany Edwards, playing as an independent, was 84^th at 90.

            "We played quite well in the first round," SUU Coach Richard Church said. "Sadie has been playing well all fall and Mikayla has played well the last couple of tournaments. This is a pretty tough field.  To be sitting ninth with one round to go is a good position for us."

            The teams play the final round Monday. This is SUU's final tournament of the fall.

-- SUU --