May 20, 2003

MANHATTAN, Kan. - Christine Boucher, the first Kansas State women's golfer to compete in an NCAA Championship, didn't quite get off to the start she envisioned during the opening round Tuesday at the par 72, 6,300- yard Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex.

The Wildcat junior, who was one of two individuals to advance out of the Central Regional, carded a 9-over par 81 to finish the day tied for 64th of 126 players.

Boucher, the first player to tee off during Tuesday's first round, was five over through the first six holes before carding her first birdie of the round on the par-4 No. 7 hole. Boucher, however, never did settle into a rhythm, settling for bogies on three of the next four holes.

A birdie on the par-4 No. 12 followed by a double bogey on 14 and a single on 17 capped Boucher's opening round.

The second round of the 2003 NCAA Women's Golf Championships tees off from the Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex at 8 a.m. (CT) Wednesday.

2003 NCAA Women's Golf Championships
Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex
West Lafayette, Ind.
Par: 72, Yardage: 6,300

Team Results (First Round)
1. USC, 305. 2. Oklahoma State, 308. 3. Ohio State, 309. 4. Florida, 313. 5. UCLA, 314. 6. Pepperdine, 315. T7. Stanford, Purdue, 316. T9. Texas, Auburn, 317. T11. Arizona, Duke, South Carolina, 318. T14. Georgia, Nebraska, Arizona State, 320. T17. California, North Carolina, Vanderbilt, 321; 20. Kent State, 324. T21. Tulsa, Florida State, 329. 23. Wisconsin, 340. 24. Washington State, 343.

Top 5 Individuals
T-1. Virada Nirapathpongporn, Duke; Annie Thurman, Oklahoma State, 72. T-3. Irene Cho, USC; Kari Damron, Purdue; Allison Hanna, Ohio State; Kim Rowton, Stanford, 74

Kansas State Individual)
T-64. Christine Boucher, 81.