SUU women's golfers in contention at NAU's Mountain Shootout

Sadie Palmer was in third place and Kacy Buckner seventh after the first round of play at Northern Arizona's Mountain Shootout Monday, leading the Thunderbirds to the top of the leaderboard. The tournament is being played at the Flagstaff (Ariz.) Ranch Course.

Palmer shot 3-over par 75 while Buckner checked in at 77 after the first round. Freshman Jamie Coking was 10th at 78, with Morgan Kerber 19th (80) and Mikayla Williamson 26th (81). SUU's Brittany Edwards, playing as an individual, was 15th at 79.

Northern Arizona's Megan Buck and North Dakota State's Amy Anderson were tied for the first round lead at 74. Anderson was the 2009 U.S. Junior Girls Amateur champion.

SUU shot 310 Monday to lead host Northern Arizona by a storke. Utah Valley was three shots back, with Grand Canyon and North Dakota State another shot back at 315. Ferris State was sixth at 319 and Cal State Bakersfield was sventh, at 321, heading into Tuesday's final round.