After Day 1 of the nine-team NCAA Central Region Championship, the Southwest Minnesota State women's golf team sits in seventh place with a team score of 340 at the Sierra del Rio Golf Club in Elephant Butte, N.M.
Leading after Day 1 is Colorado-Mesa, which finished with a round of 313, holding off second-place Western New Mexico by four strokes.
"We battled out there," said Mustangs head golf coach Ross Webskowski. "We didn't take ourselves out of the tournament and we still have an opportunity here."
Leading all players on the course is Colorado-Mesa's Jennifer Hilts, who carded a 1-over-par 73 on Sunday.
Rachel Patnoe was the low shooter for SMSU in Day 1, finishing with a 10-over 82, good for a tie in 12th place. She had eight pars and one birdie after starting off her round with a triple bogey on the first hole.
"She had a rough start, her first shot was not good, but she battled from there," Webskowski said of Patnoe. "It took her a couple holes to get going, but she played really well.
"It's a course that there's a lot of trouble out there and you don't hit a lot of drivers. Rachel's a smart player and this course sets up well for her. She's not going to be tempted to do something that'll get her in trouble."
KC Kane and Krista Weiszhaar followed Patnoe for the Mustangs with both golfers tied at 21st place with 84s. Marissa Campeau is tied for 37th after carding a 90, and Abby Gruber shot a 93, good for a tie for 44th place.
Day 2 begins at 9:50 a.m. today.
NCAA Central Region Championship
Team Scores (through Day 1): 1. Colorado-Mesa 313; 2. Western New Mexico 317; 3. Augustana 323; 4. Minnesota State-Mankato 335; 5. Winona State 337; 6. Concordia-St. Paul 338; 7. Southwest Minnesota State 340; 8. Adams State 352; 9. Colorado State-Pueblo 357.
SMSU Individual Results (through Day 1): Rachel Patnoe 82; KC Kane 84; Krista Weiszhaar 84; Marissa Campeau 90; Abby Gruber 93.