FORT COLLINS, Colo. -Â Multiple program records were set on Monday's first day at the Colonel Wollenberg Ptarmigan Ram Classic, as Nevada took a commanding lead after two rounds, highlighted by
Victoria Gailey's record-setting day.
Gailey set Nevada program records for single-round low (65) and 36-hole low (133), shooting to the top of the leaderboard at -11 (65-68=133). She takes a four-stroke lead into Tuesday's final round, with Grand Canyon's Ryan Flynn in second, while Wolf Pack teammate Raesa Shiekh is tied for third at -5 (70-69=139).
Gailey's 65 eclipsed the previous Wolf Pack low of 66, shared by teammate
Leah John (set last season in the second round of The Show at Spanish Trail) and Michelle Duan (set in the second round of the 2015 Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown), and her 36-hole low of 133 bettered John's 135 (69-66) through the first two rounds of The Show at Spanish Trail, last February.Â
Gailey started each of Monday's round at No. 8, and completed a bogey-free opening 18, notching seven birdies. Three-straight birdies on Nos. 2, 3, and 4, followed by pars on her final three holes, put her at the program record-low 65 and into a tie with Flynn on the leaderboard.
Her only bogey of the day came on No. 10, her third hole of the second round. But the setback was temporary, as Gailey followed with birdies on 11 and 12 before a run of seven pars in a row. Birdies at 2 and 3 put her at -3 for the round, and a birdie on her final hole, No. 7, completed her record day.
Sheikh caught fire on her final nine holes of the day, beginning with No. 18. Sitting at two-over for her second round at the turn, Sheikh birdied 18 to begin a back nine in which she shot a blazing six-under. She holed out from the fairway on the 396-yard, par-4 No. 1 for an eagle 2, then, after a bogey at No. 3, went par at No. 4 before closing her round with four-straight birdies.
As a team, Nevada leads the field at -18 (278-280=558), nine strokes ahead of host Colorado State. The Pack's first-round 278 matched the program's team single-round low, set in the second round of the 2015 Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown, and the 36-hole total of 558 bettered the previous standard (285-279=564 at last February's The Show at Spanish Trails) by six strokes.
The Pack carded a total of 38 birdies and two eagles Monday, with Gailey accounting for 12 birdies. Gailey's career birdie total now sits at 248, just 10 back of Nevada all-time leader Angie Yoon (1997-2001).
Leah John (T-11) and
Anitra Khoth (T-17) gave the Pack four golfers in the top 17 after the first two rounds. John posted matching rounds of 71 to finish the day at -2 (71-71=142), overcoming a triple-bogey in the second round to sink four birdies and four pars over her final eight holes. Khoth wrapped the day at even par (72-72-144), carding 16 pars in her first round before closing her day with a birdie on her final hole to stay at even.
Gabby Kano rounded out the Pack quintet with rounds of 73-78 to finish the day at +7 (151), and carded an eagle 3 at the par-5 No. 16.
Tuesday's final round is scheduled for an 8 a.m. PT shotgun start.
Team Leaderboard
1. Nevada - 278-280=558 (-18)
2. Colorado State - 281-286=567 (-9)
Leader:Â Nevada
Nevada Results
1.
Victoria Gailey - 65-68=133 (-11)
T3.
Raesa Sheikh - 70-69=139 (-5)
T11.
Leah John - 71-71=142 (-2)
T17.
Anitra Khoth - 72-72=144 (E)
5.
Gabby Kano - 73-78=151 (+7)
Leader:Â Gailey