BOULDER CITY, Nev. – It wasn't the start coach Lisa Johnson wanted to see during the first day of the Big Sky Conference women's golf championship tournament but she is confident her team will learn from its first day and make up some lost ground.
 
"We had a rough start," she said. "It was extremely windy when we teed off. We didn't make good golf course management decisions early."
 
The result is the reigning champion Vandals are fourth – but just four strokes off Portland State's first day 309, with a 313 – still very much in contention with two rounds to play.
 
"I'm very proud of the team for fighting through a lot of challenges today," she said. "That was just the first round. We have two rounds to go. I'm confident we'll come out tomorrow and post a much better number. I'm extremely proud of these ladies and how they handled themselves through all the adversity."
 
True freshman Clara Moyano was low for the Vandals with a three-over 75, which puts her in a tie for fifth. Two strokes back and tied for seventh at 77 is senior Amy Hasenoehrl, while junior Kendall Gray is tied for 18^th at 80, and sophomores Sophie Hausmann and Michelle Kim are tied for 23th at 81.
 
The second 18 is Saturday at Boulder Creek Golf Club with the final 18 Sunday.