Van Dievoet, Kim Lead Women's NCAA DI; Burnham Opens with 79

SUGAR GROVE, Ill. -- No one broke par Friday at Rich Harvest Farms (par 72, 6,343 yards) on the first day of the NCAA Women's Division I Championships, and 77 of the 132 players in the field failed to break 80. 

On a miserable day in the cold and wind, Michigan's Elodie Van Dievoet bogeyed two of the first four holes. But the sophomore from Belgium played the last 14 in 2 under, and the resulting even-par 72 gave her a share of first place, along with August Kim of Purdue. Janet Mao of Northwestern and Karoline Stormo of Kent State are one stroke behind, and there is a foursome tied for fifth at 74. 

In April, Van Dievoet won the individual medal at the Big Ten tournament. She birdied the last hole and finished one stroke ahead of Michigan State's Sarah Burnham, a junior from Wayzata and a two-time MGA Women's Player of the Year.

On Friday, Burnham was a victim of the weather. She shot 79 and is tied for 44th place. The Michigan State team struggled generally, and the Spartans are tied for 13th at 317. 

The hosts from Northwestern  lead the team standings with a 301, two ahead of Kent State -- and 10 ahead of the four teams -- Ohio State, Arizona State, Stanford and Baylor -- that are tied for third.

Stanford senior Casey Danielson, a four-time Wisconsin state high school champ from Osceola, was another player who struggled. The No. 7 player in the Women's NCAA Division I Rankings, could do no better than 80 and is tied for 56th place. 

An individual champion will be determined at the end of 72 holes. Team competition, on the other hand, will continue, as the top eight teams after four rounds of stroke play will go into match play. Match play will begin Tuesday, and the team final will be played on Wednesday.  

WOMEN'S COLLEGE GOLF

NCAA Division I Championships

At Rich Harvest Farms

Par 72, 6,343 yards

Sugar Grove, Ill. 

First-round scores

1. Northwestern                301
No
2. Kent State                    303

T3. Ohio State                  311

T3. Arizona State             311

T3. Stanford                      311

T3. Baylor                         311

7. South Carolina             313

8. North Carolina              314

T9. USC                           315

T9. Purdue                       315

T9. Michigan                   315

12. Miami                        316

T13. Michigan State        317

T13. Texas                      317

15. California                  319

16. Florida                      320

17. Clemson                   321

18. Furman                    323

T19. Duke                      325

T19. Florida State          325

21. Alabama                  328 

22. Pepperdine             330

23. Oregon                   333

24. Texas Tech             335

Individuals 

T1. Elodie Van Dievoet, Michigan           72

T1. August Kim, Purdue                          72

T3. Karoline Stormo, Kent State             73

T3. Janet Mao, Northwestern                 73

T5. Monica Vaughn, Arizona. State        74

T5. Hira Naveed, Pepperdine                74

T5. Katja Pogacar, Ohio State               74

T5. Jennifer Kupcho, Wake Forest        74

T44. Sarah Burnham, Mich. State       79

T56. Casey Danielson, Stanford         80