AURORA, Colo.  – The West Texas A&M Lady Buffs opened the 2016 NCAA Division II Women's Golf National Championship with a 309 score on the par 72, 6,468-yard CommonGround Golf Course.  WT sits 11^th heading into tomorrow's second round.  WT senior Whitlee Woods paced the team with a 76 as she is tied for 35^th.

Rollins, last year's runner-up and Nova Southeastern are tied for the lead as both teams fired a 290 score Wednesday to open the tournament.  Dallas Baptist sits third at a 293, followed by Augustana (S.D.) at a 297 and Findlay rounded out the top five at a 299. 

Indianapolis is sixth with a 300, followed by Tarleton State at 301, Grand Valley State at 302, Northeastern State at 304 and St. Leo at 305 to round out the top ten.  WT is 11^th at 309, followed by Missouri Western State at 327 rounding out the field.

Five players shot under par in the opening round led by Nova Southeastern's Mallen Domecq Chantry at a 3-under 69, while DBU's Brinn Fariss and Augustana's Marisa Tolvonen are tied for second at 2-under 70.

Following Woods, senior Glory Jangthongsiri, who was the only Lady Buff with previous experience at the NCAA National Championship round, is tied for 38^th with a 77.  Jangthongsiri qualified for the NCAA National Championship as a sophomore in 2014.  WT sophomore Mattye Mason and freshman Alexandria Massie and Kaylin Millholland each carded a 78 and are tied for 49^th.

The second round is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. Mountain Time Thursday.