LAS CRUCES, N.M. - After matching the second best single-round in program history in the final round of the Pat Lesser Harbottle Invitational last Tuesday, Nevada Women's Golfer Leah John opened the 2023 Golf Iconic Classic on Monday by carding a 65 (-7), marking a career-best score, as well as matching the best single-round score in program history.
John's consecutive rounds of 66 and 65 also marks the lowest combined score in back-to-back rounds throughout program history.
Her sensational round one performance has her in sole possession of first place by two strokes entering the second round on Tuesday.
Gabby Kano joined John in the top-10 on the leaderboard, concluding the day in a tie for sixth, as the duo propelled the Pack to sole possession of second place in the team standings after 18 holes with a score of 281 (-7), marking the sixth-best single round team score in program history.
John's performance was immaculate, as the fifth-year senior tallied 12 pars, five birdies, and one eagle, putting together a bogey-free round. Beginning the round on hole five, John parred the first hole before earning a birdie on the par-3 2nd hole.
Following another par on the 7th hole, John tallied an eagle on the par-5 3rd hole, marking her second eagle of the season.
After three straight pars, John recorded back-to-back birdies on holes 12 and 13, placing her at -5 through nine holes. John then proceeded to par five consecutive holes before picking up her fourth birdie of the round on the first hole.
John went on to par the next two holes and earn a birdie on the final hole, securing her place in the Nevada record book, as she tied Victoria Gailey's program record single round score of 65 (2022 Ptarmigan Ram Classic/Round One).
Similar to John, Kano carried over her exceptional play from the Pat Lesser Harbottle Invitational, as the sophomore opened up the Golf Iconic Classic by carding the second-best score of her career with a 69 (-3).
Kano had a bogey-free round, totaling 15 pars and three birdies. Beginning on hole 5, the sophomore started off the round with five consecutive pars.
She then proceeded to birdie three of the next five holes, before closing out the day with eight straight pars, and she will enter the second round tied for sixth on the individual leaderboard.
Anna Shultse finished third in the Nevada lineup and tied for 24th overall at even-par. Shultse recorded 10 pars and four birdies throughout the day.
Raesa Sheikh finished behind Shultse and in a tie for 55th overall after carding a 75 (+3). Sheikh had 13 pars and one birdie in the first round.
Freshman Nikki Chindavong rounded out the Wolf Pack lineup, carding an opening-round score of 77 (+5), placing her in a tie for 77th overall.
Nevada will return to the course Tuesday morning for the second round of the Golf Iconic Classic, with a shotgun start scheduled to begin at 7 a.m.
Team Leaderboard
1. Long Beach State - 278 (-10)
2. Nevada - 281 (-7)
3. Boise State - 284 (-4)
Nevada Results
1. Leah John - 65 (-7)
T6. Gabby Kano - 69 (-3)
T24. Anna Shultse - 72 (E)
T55. Raesa Sheikh - 75 (+3)
T77. Nikki Chindavong - 77 (+5)
Live Scoring
Live scoring will be available throughout the event at Golfstat.com.
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