GOODYEAR, Ariz. – MSU Denver's
Isabel Botero is the first-round leader after shooting a 4-under par 68 Monday at the RJGA Shootout at Estrella.
Botero, who had a three-stroke lead, will attempt to become the Roadrunners' first tournament winner since Jennifer Hankins captured the Maverick Spring Invitational title on April 17, 2018, during Tuesday's final round.
Botero's career-best round was the second-best round in program history and the best since Hankins' 66 on Sept. 13, 2016. It was only the fourth sub-70 round in program history. Botero had five birdies and one par on the 6,095-yard Golf Club of Estrella course.
"Isa played amazing golf today," MSU Denver coach Stef Ferguson said. "She was super steady and just played within herself. We are so proud of what she did out there on the course."
Not to be overshadowed, Botero's Roadrunners teammates have put the team in eighth place, just seven strokes out of first, after the opening round with a score of 12-over 300. That score is two strokes off the school record for 18 holes, and is tied for the second-best in program history as well as the best for the program since 2016.
Mackenzie Carpenter shot 4-over 76, while both
Vaijayanti Bharkhada and
Sydney Eye shot 6-over 78s.
"As a team, we were two shots from tying the school 18-hole record which was really cool," Ferguson said. "I think we left some shots out there, but overall I'm happy with how today went."
