CARRINGTON, N.D. -- Four Bruin golfers shot career bests, and the Bellevue University women's golf team fired a school-record team score of 4-under par 284 as BU grabbed an 18-stroke lead after the opening round of play of the North Star Athletic Association Championships being played at the 5,970-yard, par-72 Crossroads Golf Course.
The Bruins had two golfers shoot under par on the day as BU occupies four of the top seven spots on the individual leaderboard.
Dickinson State is in second place after the opening round with a 14-over par score of 298. The University of Jamestown is a distant third at 29-over par.
Maria Pinedo, who tied a school record with a 4-under par 68, is in first place in the individual standings. Her total tied Dominika Gradecka's round of 68 set during the 2020-21 season. Pinedo, who started her first round on the 10th hole and finished even par after nine holes, was 4-under par on the front nine. She had six birdies on the day with 11 pars and a double bogey.
Chloe Blandinieres is in second place after shooting a career-low 2-under-par 70 on the day. Blandinieres' opening round was highlighted by registering a pair of eagles (on the par-5 third hole and the par-5 15th hole). She also had four birdies in the opening round. Blandinieries started on fire as she was 5-under par after the first six holes.
Aaricia Noel-Traissac carded a career-best even-par 72 in the first round, putting her in a tie for fourth place. She was consistent throughout the day, registering three birdies, three bogeys, and 12 pars.
Ilysia Ibnu is in seventh place after shooting a 2-over par 74. She finished with 1-over par 37s on both the front nine and back nine. Ibnu had one birdie, three bogeys, and 14 pars in the first round.
Rounding out the day for the Bruins was Tilde-Li Andersson, who tied her career best with a 5-over 77 on Sunday. Three birdies and seven pars sparked her round.
Monday's second round will begin with a 10 a.m. shotgun start.
Note: The 72-hole tournament will conclude with the third and fourth rounds being played in the spring on April 28-29 at Bellevue's Platteview Country Club.
