May 15, 2007

SAN MARCOS, Calif. - If the first round is any indication, the 2007 NAIA Women's Golf National Championship is up for grabs as 13 teams are separated by just 13 strokes. The 23-team tournament is being played at the Lake San Marcos Country Club.

Two-time defending champion Oklahoma City and 2004 champion British Columbia share the lead after shooting 314. Victoria (B.C.) is in third with a 315. Southern Nazarene (Okla.) is fourth with a 317, while Mobile (Ala.) rounds out the top 5 with a 319. From there, the next eight teams are separated by just six strokes.

Oklahoma City and British Columbia have finished one-two in each of the past 3 tournaments.

Individually, Anne Balser of Victoria and Shanna Page of Bethel (Ind.) are tied for the individual lead after shooting an even par 72. Krista Burton of Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) is third with a two-over 74, while Southern Nazarene's Jennifer Butler, Mobile's Kelly Rainbolt, and British Columbia's Kaitlin Troop are all tied for fourth with a 3-over 75.

Second round tee times begin Wednesday at 8 a.m. The 72-hole tournament is being hosted by Cal State San Marcos and the San Diego Sports Council and concludes Friday, May 18.