Clemson entered the NCAA women’s golf championships ranked No. 16 nationally. But rankings don’t swing the club, and the Tigers are in first place at a combined 8-under-par after the opening round at the La Costa Resort & Spa’s North Course.
Texas A&M is a stroke back in second place in the 30-team field, followed by a three-way tie for third at 3-under between Auburn, Northwestern and No. 1-ranked Stanford.
Defending champion Wake Forest is tied for 18th. USC and Texas, both ranked in the top 10, are tied for 21st at 11-over-par, with work to do to make the 15-team cut after three rounds.
Stroke play continues through Monday, after which an individual champion is crowned and the team field is pared to eight for match play Tuesday and Wednesday.
A month after winning the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, England’s Lottie Woad from Florida State is atop the individual leaderboard on the 6,297-yard layout with a 7-under 65. Clemson sophomore Isabella Rawl is a stroke back, and five others are tied at 4-under. Auburn freshman (and Steele Canyon High alum) Anna Davis is among those at 3-under.
In all, 37 of the 156 golfers shot under par Friday on a course that some coaches feared would yield few red numbers.
