Women's Golf Finishes First Round at NCAA Central Regional

5/5/05 -- Shauna Wilde (Mississauga, Ontario) carded 85 and fellow senior Veronica Lopes (Mississauga, Ontario) shot 88 for Long Island to open the NCAA Central Regional in Lubbock, Texas.

Wilde -- the Northeast Conference champion and NEC Women's Golfer of the Year -- went out in 40 with birdies on the fifth and seventh holes. The three-time All-NEC honoree came in shooting 45 on the back nine that included five pars.

Lopes carded 44 on both nines with a total of eight pars. She too is a three-time All-NEC member after closing tied for third this year.

Amy Kitchen (Staten Island, N.Y.) fired 87, including 42 on the front nine, fellow senior Tracey Chew (Sacramento, Calif.) had 89 with birdies on the first and fourth holes and sophomore Erica Chong (Hilo, Hawaii) posted 97.

This is the Blackbirds first appearance at an NCAA Championship. The squad clinched its first NEC title April 19 with a 10-shot victory over St. Francis (PA).

The second round of the 54-hole event takes place Friday with LIU beginning play at 9:20 am Eastern Time. The tournament can be followed live by clicking here.