Ponce leads the Griz after 18

ST. GEORGE, Utah - The Montana women's golf team finished its first day at the Lady Thunderbird Invitational, scoring 321 in its first round of the tournament.

"Today was a very tough conditions on a course with tons of trouble on every hole. We didn't handle it as well as we could've, despite the conditions," said head coach Kris Nord.

The team sits 10^th in the tournament, four strokes shy from tying for ninth, with room to move up in the coming days. Junior Jessica Ponce led the team scoring 76 and finished the day tied at 15^th place overall.

"I was very impressed with Jessica's play. She had her game under control," added Nord.

Montana totaled eight birdies on the day, with Patricia Joyce and Kylie Franklin carrying three each.

Freshman Franklin competed for her first time on the Sunbrook Golf Course and held her own. The freshman finished the day scoring 79 overall.

Though it was her first time at the course, Nord was impressed with her play. "Kylie Franklin also hung in there really well," he said.

Though the rest of the team didn't compete the way they had wished, the morale is high.

"The rest of the team is ready to get back on the course and redeem themselves. We are better than we showed today," said Nord.

The Griz will be back on the course for round two tomorrow, teeing off at 9 a.m. (MT).

University of Montana Athletics

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Kylie Franklin

Jessica Ponce

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