Emma Bunch (-4) atop individual leaderboard through 18 holes.
Source: NMSU Athletics
MAGNOLIA, Texas – Eighteen down, 36 to go. NM State wrapped up the first round of action at the Conference USA Championship on Monday morning at High Meadow Ranch Golf Club. With two rounds remaining, the Aggies are currently sitting in second place and are just one stroke off the lead after posting a 287 (-1) to open play. NM State is only looking up at Sam Houston who shot two under par to enter the clubhouse ahead of the seven-team field.
Individually, NM State sophomore Emma Bunch finds herself with a solo lead after posting an opening round 68 (-4) to represent one of just two golfers in the 35-player field to shoot in the sixties. Bunch submitted a bogey-free round while tallying four birdies to begin her quest for a CUSA title. Meanwhile, Sam Houston’s Grace Jin recorded a 69 (-3) to finish the day as the only golfer within two strokes of Bunch after 18 holes.
The Aggies’ Isa Laulhé also got her week off to a strong start as she carded a 71 (-1) to serve as the second Aggie to appear on the leaderboard as she sits in a two-way tie for third. Additionally, both Kaylee Chen and Alison Gastelum will enter the second round in a tie for 13th after managing a pair of 74s during the first round of action. Angela Garvin is also just one stroke back of Chen and Gastelum and sits in a tie for 20th.
As a team, NM State’s average score of 4.08 on the par fours was the best in the field while its combined total of 63 pars also paced the group. This was bolstered by Bunch who notched an average par four score of 3.70 across the course’s 10 par four holes. Three Aggies also were among the top four individuals in total pars as Gastelum (14), Bunch (14) and Laulhé (13) all played relatively consistent rounds to start the week. Lastly, Garvin’s eagle on hole four was one of just two eagles from the entire field on the opening day of play.
Tomorrow, the five Aggies will be paired with players from Sam Houston and UTEP and will be among the final tee times of the day. Garvin will lead the way for the Aggies – going off at 8 a.m. MT while Gastelum (8:09 a.m.), Chen (8:18 a.m.), Laulhé (8:27 a.m.) and Bunch (8:36 a.m.) will follow the graduate student.
Aggie supporters can follow every shot via GolfStat.com or head to the NM State women’s golf schedule page for live stats and results.
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TEAM LEADERBOARD
| Pos. | Team | R1 | Total (To Par) |
| 1 | Sam Houston | 286 | 286 (-2) |
| 2 | NM State | 287 | 287 (-1) |
| 3 | UTEP | 292 | 292 (+4) |
| 4 | WKU | 297 | 297 (+9) |
| 5 | FIU | 302 | 302 (+14) |
| 6 | Jax State | 303 | 303 (+15) |
| 7 | MTSU | 307 | 307 (+19) |
AGGIE INDIVIDUAL SCORES
| Pos. | Player | R1 | Total (To Par) |
| 1 | Emma Bunch | 68 | 68 (-4) |
| T3 | Isa Laulhé | 71 | 71 (-1) |
| T13 | Kaylee Chen | 74 | 74 (+2) |
| T13 | Alison Gastelum | 74 | 74 (+2) |
| T20 | Angela Garvin | 75 | 75 (+3) |
