MESA, Ariz. – University of Colorado Colorado Springs sophomore Alex Darwin opened the spring season with a 5-over par 77 to lead the Mountain Lions in the first round of the Fort Hays State Spring Thaw at Dobson Ranch Golf Course. UCCS is third in the team standings with a 37-over 325, and is 10 strokes behind tournament leader Colorado Mesa.

Darwin recorded her fourth round of the 2015-16 season within five strokes of par and has four of the top six rounds for the Mountain Lions this season. She is three strokes within Winona State's Katya Hoffman for the lead and is tied with Colorado Mesa's Taylor Walters.

Timberlee McNair and Amanda Crites both recorded an 82 in today's round and tied for No. 14 at 10-over par. Crites shot within one stroke of her season-best round and McNair's performance was her first as a Mountain Lion. Raquell Castillo rounded out the team score with an 84 and tied for No. 20 in the field of 58 golfers.

UCCS is one stroke behind Winona State in the team standings and one ahead of Western New Mexico. It was the best first-round score of the season and the fourth best for any round of the 2015-16 season.

The Mountain Lions will finish the tournament on Tuesday.