PALM DESERT, Calif.  – The Catholic women's golf team began its fourth consecutive NCAA Championship appearance on Tuesday afternoon at the Desert Willow Golf Resort. 

Brooke Smith had the best first round for the Cardinals, shooting a 77 (+5) on the 5,883-yard par-72 course. She started her round with three pars and two birdies on five of the first seven holes. Her birdies came on the par three on hole 14 and the 340-yard par four on 16. She added six more pars throughout her round to finish the day in a tie for 58th to be well within the top half of the field. 

Meghan Mullen was next on the board for Catholic as she shot an 87 on the day with five pars in total including a streak of three in a row from holes 12-14. Gabi Courtney came in three strokes behind her with a 90. She recorded the other birdie on the day for the Cardinals on the 489-yard par five on hole one. 

Lauren Wright and Mary McGuire were the other two Cardinals to compete and they shot a 93 and 95 respectively to wrap up the day.

Catholic sits in 31st heading into the second day tomorrow and will tee off at 10:45 am.