GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (GoThunderWolves.com - May 5, 2013) - CSU-Pueblo's Leina Kim (RFr., Saipan, CNMI) put herself in position to qualify for nationals, leading the 49-member field after one round of the NCAA Division II West Super Regionals.

Kim shot a 3-over-par 74, putting her in a three-way tie for first place.  She used her experience to play the Tiara Rado Golf Course - she is the only competitor in the field to have played it before at the Maverick Invitational on April 16 - and the results were shown in her play.

She made par on 16 of 18 holes, her only misteps coming on a bogey in the fourth hole and a double-bogey on the ninth.  Remarkably, she ascended to first place without sinking a single birdie.

Unlike other women's tournaments, this tournament will span three rounds, 54 holes in all.  The top three teams and top three individuals not associated with the top three teams advance to the NCAA Division II National Championships, being held May 15-18 at LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Fla.

If the tournament were to end today, Kim would advance to the National Championships.  St. Edward's (Texas), Grand Canyon (Ariz.) and Dallas Baptist (Texas) are the team leaders, with the top individuals not associated with either of those teams being Kim at 3-over-par, Cal State-Monterey Bay's Arinda Bhanaraksa, also at 3-over-par, and Academy of Art's Crystal Faith Superal, sitting at 4-over-par.

Second round action will continue Monday.