BLAINE, Wash. – New Mexico State sophomore Kennedie Montoya led the way for the Aggies in the first round of the Western Athletic Conference Women's Championship on Friday at the Semiahmoo Country Club.
 
Montoya, the first-year Aggie from Thatcher, Ariz., fired a 2-over-par 74 on the par 72, 5,826 yard SCC layout to stand in a fifth place tie after the opening round. But the rest of the two-time defending WAC Champion Aggies struggled a bit, posting a first round 305.
 
NM State is eight strokes behind leader Utah Valley at 297 and four in back of second place Seattle at 301.
 
"We are definitely a better team than our score today," said NM State head coach Jackie Booth. "I know that we will see better scores from our veteran players."
 
Montoya struggled herself on the first 11 holes, picking up a birdie on the par 3 No. 3 but tallying five bogeys. But she kicked into gear in the final seven holes, with a birdie on the par 5 13th and the par 4 16th that broke up the string of par golf.
 
The Macias sisters, senior Viviana and junior Valeria of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, both carded rounds of 4-over 76 to tie for ninth
 
Junior Camille Orito from Fresno, Calif./Clovis West, scored for NM State with a 7-over 79 and is tied for 20th, while senior Kacey Dalpes of Alamogordo, N.M., added an 8-over 80.
 
Montoya is three strokes off the lead of UVU's Ana Margarita Raga who shot a 1-under 71, one stroke better UVU teammate Carly Dehlin at even-par 72.
 
"There is still a lot of golf yet to be played," said Booth. We are looking forward to each round ahead of us."
 
The Aggies will be in the final groups in the second round, playing with UVU and Seattle with tee times starting at 10:30 Mountain on Saturday morning.