ST. GEORGE, Utah – The CSU Bakersfield women's golf team kicked off the Pizza Hut Lady Thunderbird Invitational with 18 holes of golf on Thursday afternoon. CSUB posted its best single-round score of the season and second-best all-time while the Roadrunners were led by sophomore Ariel Lee.

“I'm really proud of Ariel for going low,” said Meghan Thomason, CSUB's Director of Golf and the women's team's Head Coach. “We're looking forward to getting back out there and attacking the course again tomorrow.”

Lee, a native of Singapore, paced the 'Runners with her two-over 74 on Thursday. The 5-foot-6 sophomore tied both her and Bakersfield's lowest single-round of the season with the score. With the performance, Lee is currently tied for ninth overall in the 79-woman field. She is also now tied for fourth all-time in CSUB history for an 18-hole score.

Coming into the clubhouse second for CSUB on the first day of competition was sophomore Tori Peers. The native of Grand Island, Neb. shot a 77 to open the tournament, tying her best round of the season from the Santa Clara Invitational in October. Finishing with the third best score of the day for the 'Runners was Bakersfield native Julia Stewart (79).

Rounding out the 'Runner scoring four on Thursday was Chandler Bullman. The junior from Bakersfield scored an 81 while senior Shannon Wong was one stroke back at 82 in the first round.

As a team, CSUB finished tied for sixth of 13 teams with fellow WAC member Utah Valley. CSUB is only four strokes back of third place after posting a first-round team total of 311 (+23) strokes. The team mark is the lowest of the season for the 'Runners and second-best all-time. The overall leader after the first day of competition was South Dakota State while Hallie Getz of SDSU was the individual leader on Day 1 with a four-under 68.

The Roadrunners and the rest of the field will return to Sunbrook Golf Course for a final round on Friday.

~GoRunners.com~