LAS CRUCES, N.M. -- The NM State women's golf program rode a fast start Monday to finish solo third after the opening round of the Aggie Invitational hosted at the NMSU Golf Course.
The Aggies fired a combined team score of 288 (E) and trail UIW (-6) by six shots and Boise State (-2) by two. Today's round of 288 was the lowest round the Aggies have shot this season.
Hosting an event for the first time since 2019 McKee and the Aggies got off to roaring start Monday, as the junior fired four birdies on the front nine to card a three-under 33. After a birdie on 10 brought McKee to -4 overall and solo first place, the Texan bogeyed four of her final eight holes including 17 and 18. McKee sits at -1 overall, which is tied for ninth.
She is joined by teammate Alison Gastelum who fired a bogey-free front nine enroot to an opening round 71 (-1).
Playing in her just her second collegiate tournament, Mejji Tungprapunvong used four birdies to fire an even par 72. Like McKee, Tungprapunvong started fast working her way to -3 overall after nine holes, but back-to-back bogeys on her last two holes brought the freshman back to even par.
Lexi Perry leads the Aggie Invitational after one round by one shot over Kate Villegas of UC Riverside and Keisha Lugito of Seattle U. Perry fired a solid round of 68 to sit a -4 overall, while Villegas and Lugito each fired opening rounds of 69 to finish tied for second.
The Aggies sit one shot clear of Seattle U (+1) and two shots clear of Northern Arizona (+2) who reside in fourth and fifth respectively.
HEAD COACH DANNY BOWEN:
"We got off to an awesome start today. We were -8 at the turn and happened to give a few back at the end. This team is learning how to close out rounds and finish better. It's a step in the learning process for us, but if we want to be in contention tomorrow we need to play a complete 18 holes tomorrow. I think we're up to the challenge. There were scores to be had today out there. If you played good irons you had some makeable birdie puts. Tomorrow will be pretty similar, just a few different pin locations. We just need to be careful of the dangerous pins, make a few more puts and finish the round better. "
UP NEXT:
The Aggies look to build on Monday's success during tomorrow's moving day. The second round begins at 8:30 a.m. local time.
