True North Classic Round One Results

RICHMOND, British Columbia – Academy of Art women's golf teed off on Monday morning for the first time this season at the True North Classic at Richmond Country Club. The Urban Knights ended the day in fifth with a cumulative score of 314, led by a career performance by sophomore Chih-Hui "Judy" Shao. 

"It was certainly nice to get back out on the course in a tournament," said head coach Mitch Lowe. "The team was a little rusty, but that's not unusual first time back. It's unfortunate we are a player down, but everyone hung in really well and didn't let any round get away from them."

Shao shot the best round of her career on day one, a 2-over-par 74, good for a fifth place finish. She collected a team high three birdies and had the third best score on par-3 holes out of the entire field. Seniors Elan Hawkins and Han-Chuan "Vicky" Kuo were the Knights' next best scorers, turning in a 7-over-par 79. Junior Iveta Posledni rounded out the ART U scorers with her 9-over-par 82, however she did shoot the only other birdie for the Knights on the par-4 eighth.

"It was great to see Judy play up to her standards, with her lowest round of her collegiate career," said Lowe. "The weather is forecast to be rainy and windy so we will really have to dig in and compete tomorrow."

Host Simon Fraser tops the team standings after a 295 in round one. Second place Western Washington sits nine strokes behind them, while ART U is only one stroke behind fourth place Colorado Christian and three strokes back of third place Concordia Oregon. 

Academy of Art will return to the links of Richmond Country Club early tomorrow morning to close out their first tournament of the 2019-2020 season.