LOMPOC, Calif. -- The women's team is in fourth and the men's team seventh after the first round of the GSAC Golf Championships held at La Purisima Golf Club in Lompoc, Calif.
Hannah Ulibarri is tied for the first round lead on the women's side after firing a 3-over 75 on the par-72 course considered one of the toughest in the state of California.
Halle Hagberg had a pair of birdies and is T18, while Susan Tiffner is one stroke back and T20. Reece Benjamin finished her first round T26.
"I think they really stuck with it," said TMU Assistant Coach Nicole Lopez regarding the women's team. "It's a really tough course and there's a lot of mental game you have to play as well as just hitting good shots. One thing about the girls is they did a really good job at keeping their head in it and adjusting their shots because of the wind and the speed of the greens. I saw a lot of really good shots with really good smiles on their faces and really good attitudes. That's what makes it all worth it."
Jacob Janho's 5-over 77 led the Mustangs men's team as the wind shifted midway through the round to make the course even harder to play.
"The course is playing exactly how we expected," said TMU Head Coach Luke Brueckner, who followed the men. "Hard is what it is. Very hard. I told the guys going into this that I just want their best effort and their best attitude, and I think that's what they gave me. That's all we can do."
Only six strokes separates Master's from Arizona Christian in second place.
Rye Winans fired a 6-over 78 to finish his first 18 holes in 17th,
Seth Bishop is at 7-over,
Charlie Pollock 8-over and Wes Opliger 11-over.
The conference championship is a 3-day, 54-hole tournament with the winner getting the automatic qualifying bid to the NAIA National Championships.
Weather for Tuesday's second round is expected to be rainy.
To follow the live scoring throughout the tournament for the men, click
HERE. For the women's scores, click
HERE.
