PUEBLO, Colo. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs women's golf team opened the 2017-18 season with the best round in program history and true freshman McKenna Vanko tied for the individual lead after the first round of the Samuel Proal Farmers Insurance Invitational, hosted by Colorado State-Pueblo at the Pueblo Country Club.

The Mountain Lions shot a 13-over 301 and broke the previous record of 14-over from the second round of the 2016 RMAC Tournament. UCCS holds a three-stroke lead in the team standings ahead of second-place CSU-Pueblo and is 11 strokes ahead of third-place Western New Mexico. 

Vanko made her UCCS debut with the third-best round in program history and is tied for the individual tournament lead with a 1-over 73. It's the best round for a Mountain Lion since Alex Darwin's even score in the 2016 RMAC Tournament. Darwin finished one stroke behind Vanko today with a 2-over 74 and is tied for fourth in the individual standings.

Julia Baroth also made her first UCCS appearance with a 4-over 76 and is tied for No. 10 in the standings. Timbrelee McNair rounded out the team score with a 77 and is No. 15 overall. She is in position for her fourth top-15 finish in her career.

Megan Vernon improved her personal best by five strokes with a 74 as an individual golfer, and is tied with Darwin at fourth overall. Regina Dillon is tied for No. 22 overall with a 9-over 81. She is in position for her second career top-25 finish.

UCCS will be paired with CSU-Pueblo and Western New Mexico in Tuesday's final round. The shotgun start will take place at 9 a.m.