OWINGS MILLS, Md. — University of Denver junior Stephanie Sherlock was one of only two players to shoot under par Tuesday, leading the upset-minded Pioneers women’s golf team to the top of the leaderboard after the first round of the NCAA Championship at Caves Valley Golf Club.
Sherlock birdied five holes in the first round to card a 2-under-par 70. She is tied for the lead with Catherine O’Donnell of North Carolina.
Denver, which entered ranked No. 13, vaulted to the top of the team leaderboard at 6-over 294, two strokes better than UCLA and five shots ahead of third-place North Carolina.
The Pioneers’ Ellie Givens is in a tie for seventh at 73. DU, making its third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, finished in sixth place as a team last year.
“I’m pleased with our start,” DU coach Sammie Chergo said.
“We played well, but there is a long way to go. There are so many good teams here, and we just need to remain focused and play our game.”
The second round tees off today at 7:30 a.m.
