The ASU women's golf team would likely take a mulligan after Monday's opening round of the Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge at the Palos Verdes Golf Club in Palos Verdes Estates, Calif.
In it's opening golf tournament of the spring season, the team finished the day well behind defending national champion UCLA after carding a 24-over-par 308.
Top-ranked Duke is in second with Pepperdine in third. Oklahoma State and Washington are tied for fourth.
Freshman Louise Stahle carried the Sun Devils, shooting a 4-over-par 75 and finishing in a 10-way tie for 19th place.
The team struggled on the 5912-yard par-71 course, managing only five birdies Monday.
While ASU still has two rounds left, Monday's effort was not what coach Melissa Luellen hoped to see in her squad's first outing of the spring.
ASU will have to overcome their inexperience during the final two rounds of the tournament.
In addition to Stahle, the Sun Devils traveled to California this week with freshmen Brooke Todare and Sara Lester. While no seniors are competing, junior Alissa Kuczka may have to step into a leadership role if the team hopes to compete against the more-seasoned lineups.
Kuczka fired an 8-over-par 79 in Monday's action, but the Phoenix native had a standout fall season, finishing in the top 25 of all four events in which the team competed.
Kuczka finished fourth in the Kent Youel Invitational in Honolulu, and her 73.14 stroke average was tied for second on the team.
Duke sophomore Brittney Lang finished with a 2-stroke advantage after firing a 3-under-par 68. Lang, the reigning NCAA Freshman of the Year, is currently the fourth-ranked player in the country.
UCLA's battle-tested lineup rounded out the top four spots with senior Melissa Martin and junior Susie Mathews finishing just two shots back of the lead. Sophomore Hannah Jun ended the round at even par-71 in fourth place.
Other ASU golfers include Sara Lester (5-over, T29), Tiffany Tavee (7-over, T53) and Brooke Todare (10-over, T68).
The second round is scheduled to resume today at 9:05 a.m.
Reach the reporter at mark.saxon@asu.edu.
