Alabama’s Cheyenne Knight One Shot Off the Lead at NCAA Women’s Golf Championships

Alabama freshman Cheyenne Knight shot a 3-under par 69 to tie for third in the individual competition after the first round of the NCAA Women’s Golf Championships at the par-72, 6,331-yard Eugene Country Club in Eugene, Ore., on Friday.

Knight is one shot off the individual lead entering Saturday’s second round. As a team, Alabama shot a 12-over par 300 in first round and sits in 23rd place in the team race.

“I’m glad we have 54 holes to get it back,” head coach Mic Potter said. “It’s not what I expected. The number of shots (to make up) isn’t tremendous but we’re going to have to come out here and shoot under par, that’s for sure. You’ve got to play from the fairway out here. That’s the name of the game.”

Knight’s round is two shots off the season-low round of 67 she turned in at the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate. She was the lone Alabama golfer under par today. Seniors Janie Jackson (4-over 76) and Emma Talley (5-over 77) followed Knight. Sophomores Lakareber Abe and Nicole Morales came in at 6-over par 78.

Oklahoma State shot a 4-under par 284 to lead after the first round. UCLA is second at 286. Washington and USC are third at 289 and Arizona is fifth at 291.

The top eight teams at the end of the stroke play on Monday will qualify for the match play rounds that begin on Tuesday, May 24.

Alabama will start Saturday’s second round off Hole No. 1 at 7:30 a.m. PT (9:30 a.m. CT). The Tide will again be paired with USC and UCLA.