It wasn't the golf course, at least not according to several top players, who said The Country Club was "playing short" Monday. It couldn't have been the rain, which only lasted about a half hour and did little more than briefly cool everyone off.
Whatever the reason, the scores were higher than expected on the opening day of the Women's State Amateur, celebrating its 100th tournament since its beginning in 1900.
Nobody could break par on the opening day of the State Am, leaving a wide-open race heading into the final two rounds, today and Wednesday.
Lynsey Myers, a native of Beaver who recently completed her eligibility at Weber State, shot a 74 and enjoys a one-stroke lead over four-time champion Terry Hansen and another former Weber golfer, Amy Mombert.
Another stroke back at 76 are two-time champion Sue Nyhus, the BYU women's golf coach, and Bountiful teenager Natalie Stone, who plays for Colorado State.
Defending champion and pre-tournament favorite Rachel Newren is all alone in sixth place after a 77, with three golfers, Camille Gardner, Jessica Thomas and Tricia Olson at 78.
Myers was surprised her 74 at the Salt Lake Country Club layout turned out to be good enough for the first-round lead. She said the key to her round was her short game.
"I made some key putts and some good approach shots," she said.
After shooting a 40 on the front nine, Myers got hot on the back nine with birdies at 11, 13, 14 and 15. The only disappointment was a bogey at 17 and a par at the par-5 18, which was very birdie-able for the good players at 353 yards.
Myers, who works at The Golf Lab in downtown Salt Lake, won the UGA Match Play Tournament in 2004 and finished second in the State Am the same year. She would love to add a State Am title to her resume.
"I definitely have room for improvement," Myers said.
Hansen who won four State Ams in the early 1980s beginning in 1980 at the age of 17, has contended several times since but never won. She had five bogeys early on, before finishing with birdies at 16 and 18.
Hansen said she definitely has a chance to win this year, adding, "I've played well this summer."
Mombert credited her fine round to being relaxed. She flew in to Salt Lake from Oregon Sunday night, never having seen the Country Club course and said she just wanted to have fun with some old friends from college.
"Sometimes when you're more relaxed, you play better," said Mombert, who manages a bowling alley in Oregon. "I played well, considering I haven't played in three weeks."
Newren has played well since winning the State Am at Hidden Valley a year ago with several top finishes on the BYU women's team. Earlier this month, she finished second in the prestigious North and South Amateur in North Carolina.
"I struggled today," said Newren. "I didn't get the ball close enough to the hole. I normally have five birdies in a round, but today I didn't have any."
Newren did add an eagle at the final hole to keep her from being five shots behind.
Flight leaders include Sela Fotu (78) in First Flight, Tammy Ray (79) in Second Flight, Eileen Rich (85) in Third Flight, Laurie Spencer (83) in Fourth Flight, Lynne Foulger (85) in Fifth Flight and Jill Candland (88) in Sixth Flight.
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