LAS CRUCES, N.M. – With her third round of even par or better on this season and a 1st-round 71, UT Arlington's Madison Le led the Mavericks after Monday's opening round of NM State's Golf Iconic Classic at NM State Golf Course.
 
As a team, the Mavericks are currently tied for 14th place – just four shots shy of top-10 contention – after the squad posted a 1st-round 297.
 
Behind a team-total of 12 birdies in Monday's opening-round, Le paced the lineup with five to her name.

UTA SCORES
T-15) Madison Le: 71 (-1)
T-46) Nitisha Manikandesh: 74 (+2)
T-65) Kamri Gabel: 76 (+4)
T-65) Hannah Choi: 76 (+4)
T-77) Nirjara Gulhane: 77 (+5)
 
TEAM
T-14) UT Arlington: 297 (+9)
 
INSIDE THE SCORES
Le

• Le started action in Las Cruces on the 8th hole as she played the first eight holes in an impressive -4, birdieing holes 10, 11, 12, 14, and 15. The sophomore went on to put up three bogeys across the closing 10 holes, leading to a 1st-round 71.

Manikandesh

• Manikandesh got her day started on 10 as she produced a 35 (-1) on the back side – her front side – with a pair of birdies on 14 and 16. The transfer went on to card four-straight pars (1-4) before a double on 5 set her card back +1. Even with another birdie coming on 6, the sophomore bogeyed two of the final three holes settling for a 74.

Gabel

• Gabel turned in a 1st-round 76 as her card featured one double, five bogeys, nine pars and three birdies – which came on holes 3, 10 and 15 and second-best of UTA.

Choi

• The fifth year was one of three Mavericks who didn't put anything higher than a bogey on her card of 76. Across Monday's opening round, Choi recorded five bogeys, 12 pars and one birdie (15).

Gulhane

• The freshman started Golf Iconic Classic action with an opening-bogey on 11, following it up with three additional bogeys on the back side – her front side – to place her card at +4 before making the turn. Gulhane's play settled down over the closing nine with just one hiccup coming on 5, leading her to a round of 77.

NEXT UP
The Mavs will begin the second round of NM State's Golf Iconic Classic Tuesday, Oct. 10 with an 8:30 a.m. MT/9:30 CT a.m. shotgun start from NM State Golf Course.

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