UTC golfer Maria Juliana Loza hits a ball out of a bunker.The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women's golf team shot a 23-over-par 311 in the first round of the NCAA East Regional tournament in State College, Pa.
UTC is tied for 18th with Augusta State and San Diego State, which all trail leader South Carolina by 33 strokes after Thursday's 18 holes.
The Mocs, who won the Southern Conference championship, were led by a 1-over 73 from senior Maria Juliana Loza. She is tied for 17th in the medalist race.
Former Baylor school golfer Brooke Pancake, a senior for top-seeded Alabama, shot a 75 and is tied for 39th at the Penn State Blue Course.
UTC sophomores Marion Duvernay and Jordan Britt shot 77 and 78 and classmate Sophie Weilguni added a 83, while Mette Kryger had the Mocs' drop score.
Katerina Ruzickova of Texas A&M shot a 5-under 67 and leads the medalist race by one over Juliet Vongphourny of Maryland.
The top eight teams and top two individuals not on those teams advance to the NCAA championship tournament. Oklahoma State is in eighth place at 11 over heading into the second of three rounds.
Contact David Uchiyama at duchiyama@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6484.