TUCSON, Ariz. – The wind was howling and sent scores skyrocketing, but the MSU Denver women's golf team held tight and stands in fifth place among 20 teams after the first day of the West Texas A&M Desert Invitational.
 
The Roadrunners' team score of 325 may not be impressive at first glance (the team's second worst in 18 rounds this season), but with winds of 20 to 30 mph and gusts up to 50 mph (just a tick below the Friday winds that blew through Denver and forced the postponement of baseball and tennis events), it has them in position for one of their highest placings of 2022-23.
 
MSU Denver is ahead of seven teams ranked in the national top 50 and trails only four ranked teams – the Roadrunners are two strokes behind eighth-ranked West Texas A&M, five behind 48^th-ranked CSU Pueblo, seven behind 13^th-ranked Point Loma (Calif.) and nine behind 17^th-ranked tournament leader Cal State East Bay.
 
The Roadrunners are one of two unranked teas in the field's top 11.
 
"Overall the team hung really tough today," MSU Denver coach Stef Ferguson said. "It was very hard conditions, with strong wind and lots of gusty, swirly conditions. We are in a good spot going into tomorrow and just need to keep it going and finish a little better."
 
Isabel Botero is one of just 18 individuals in the field of 105 to shoot a sub-80 round and she is tied for 11^th and 7-over 79. Winnie Shaw is among the group tied for 19^th after shooting 80, and Mackenzie Carpenter played her final nine holes in 2-over to tie for 26^th at 81. No individual in the field shot better than 75.

"Isa, Winnie and Mack all played really steady golf today," Ferguson said. "I'm so proud of them for hanging in there."
 
The tournament concludes with Tuesday's second round, with improved weather conditions expected.