Besio tops leaderboard at NCAA D-II National Championships

Newberry sophomore competing as an individual in Mesa, Ariz.

MESA, Ariz. – Newberry College sophomore Maria Besio leads the NCAA Division II National Championship women’s golf tournament after the completion of the first round in Mesa, Ariz. on Wednesday afternoon.

Representing Newberry as an individual, Besio (Buenos Aires, Argentina) racked up a first day even par round of 71. The 71 strokes ties Besio’s season-low for 18 holes. Starting at the 10th hole, Besio picked up two birdies in the first nine holes totaling 34 strokes.

Besio ran into some trouble on the back nine with three consecutive bogeys on hole five, six, and seven. The 2010 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference tournament champion and first team All-SAC selection finished strongly with a birdie on the final hole of the afternoon to finish even par.

Pacing a field of 71 participants, Besio holds a one stroke lead over Emily Kvidera from Augustana College. Joanna Coe and Elin Marcsdottir from Rollins College, Sandra Changkija and Abbey Gittings of Nova Southeastern, and Katy Ward from Tarleton State University each shot a 3-over par score of 74 to tie for 3rd individually.

In a 12-team field, Nova Southeastern University holds the lead by eight strokes after a first round team total of 298, 14-over par. Rollins College occupies 2nd after the first day with a 306, 22-over par, and Tarleton State University sits in 3rd with a 311, 27-over par.

Besio tees off the second of four 18-hole rounds Thursday morning at 9:10 a.m. pacific time from the 1st hole at the par-71, 6,159-yard Longbow Golf Club.

NCAA Division II Women's Golf National Championships
Mesa, Ariz.     Longbow Golf Club
Par: 71     Yardage: 6,159

For full team leaderboard results, click here.

Individual Top-10