Piddon Sets Pace on Day One for Golden Suns

Eleven of the 72 players at the 2018 NCAA Division II Women’s Golf Championships broke par during the opening round at Bay Oaks Country Club in Houston, Texas, on Wednesday.

Arkansas Tech University’s Peerada Piddon was one of those 11.

Piddon fired an opening-round 1-under par 71 over the 6,190-yard layout and is tied for sixth place in the individual standings with three rounds remaining.

The junior from Bangkluay, Thailand, overcame three consecutive bogeys early in her round. She made five birdies and one bogey from holes seven through 15 before closing with three straight pars.

ATU’s Pia Nunbhakdi is in 12th place in the individual standings after an opening-round 72. She made two birdies and two bogeys on the opening nine and recorded nine consecutive pars on the way home.

The Golden Suns shot 305 as a team on Wednesday. They are tied for ninth place among the 12-team field.

Allie Weiner (T-57th, 80), Holly Standing (T-64th, 82) and Avery Struck (T-68th, 84) are also representing Arkansas Tech at the national finals.

The University of Indianapolis is in first place in the team standings after round one. The Greyhounds posted a team score of 286 on Wednesday.

Casey Wild of Tarleton State University and Kiira Riihijarvi of the University of Tampa share first place in the individual standings. They both returned rounds of 3-under 69 on day one.

The tournament will continue on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.