SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - The Arizona women's golf team opened the 2023 NCAA Women's Golf Championship at Grayhawk Golf Club with a team score of 292 (+4), which is tied for 13th after the first round. Â
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The Wildcats are making their 24th all-time appearance at the NCAA Championships and ninth in 13 seasons under head coach Laura Ianello.Â
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Freshman Nena Wongthanavimok led the Wildcats with a score of 3-under par 69 on Friday, one stroke shy of matching her season-best round of 68, which she shot in her first-ever collegiate round back in September. It is the lowest score by a Wildcat at the NCAA Championship since Bianca Pagdanganan fired a 68 in the second round at Karsten Creek G.C. in 2018. Â
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Wongthanavimok is tied for seventh on the individual leaderboard through the first 18 holes.Â
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Wongthanavimok went out in even par 36 with two birdies and two bogeys. She started the back nine with three birdies over the first four holes on her way to a 33 on the way in. Â
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"I tried to be very patient," Wongthanavimok said. "I know the course is pretty challenging, so I tried to stick to my plan. I just tried to do what Coach Ianello said, which was be patient and give 100 percent effort.Â
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Senior Gile Bite Starkute posted a round of 73 with four birdies and five bogeys as the Wildcats made a total of 18 birdies on the first day. Â
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Carolina Melgrati played a solid opening round with two birdies and three bogeys to match Starkute's opening 73. Â
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Freshman Julia Misemer reeled off a string of four straight birdies on the front nine from No. 4 through No. 7, including a near eagle on the par 5 seventh hole, and finished with a 5-over par 77 score. Â
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Arizona will begin its second round at 11:52 a.m. PT off No. 10 tee, once again playing alongside Oklahoma State and Virginia. Â
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