ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico – The first day of college women's golf season went extremely well for Pepperdine, as the Waves have opened up a one-shot lead after Monday's two rounds at the Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational, while freshman Alexa Melton has a two-shot lead in the individual race.
 
It's shaping up as a three-team competition at the par-72 UNM Championship Course, with the Waves firing a 7-under 569 (280-289) on Monday, though they are closely followed by Kent State (6-under) and Ole Miss (5-under). The next set of teams are 10 shots back of the Waves.
 
The Waves are hoping to win the McGuire for the fourth time in program history, with the previous victories in 2005, 2009 and 2013. Hira Naveed earned medalist honors last year for the Waves.
 
PLAYER SCORES

• Freshman Alexa Melton (Covina, Calif./South Hills HS), playing her first college rounds on her birthday, has the lead with a 7-under 137 (69-68). She had four birdies and an eagle during her 3-under first round, and six birdies during her 4-under second round. Melton is regarded as one of the nation's top freshmen.
• Senior Momoka Kobori (Rangiora, New Zealand) is tied for 10th place with a 1-under 143 (69-74). She had four birdies during her 3-under morning round, then three more birdies in the afternoon.
• Junior Megan Dennis (Bedfordshire, United Kingdom/Florida Tech) is tied for 19th at 145 (71-74). She had three birdies and an eagle during her 1-under first round, then posted two more birdies in the second round.
• Freshman Reese Guzman (Kahului, Hawai'i/Maui HS) is tied for 25th at 147 (71-76). She scored a 1-under in her first college round with three birdies, then had one more birdie in the second round.
• Sophomore Sifan He (Shanghai, China) is tied for 56th at 151 (78-73). She had three birdies in each round.
• Playing as an individual, sophomore Kathrine Chan (Richmond, B.C., Canada) is tied for 62nd at 152 (74-78). She had two birdies on the day.

UP NEXT
 
The third and final round is on Tuesday. Pepperdine, Kent State and Ole Miss will start on holes 1-3 with a shotgun start beginning at 7:30 a.m. MT.
 
THE NUMBERS
 
Team Standings: 1. Pepperdine 280-289=569; 2. Kent State 283-287=570; 3. Ole Miss 283-288=571; T4. San Diego State 285-294=579; T4. Iowa State 286-293=579; 6. Mississippi State 279-301=580; T7. Nevada 291-293=584; T7. Indiana 293-291=584; 9. New Mexico 291-295=586; 10. UC Davis 297-291=588; 11. UNLV 297-299=596; 12. Nebraska 299-299=598; 13. Idaho 297-303=600; 14. Iowa 295-306=901; 15. Colorado State 304-306=610.
 
Individual Leaders: 1. Alexa Melton (Pepperdine) 69-68=137; T2. Priscilla Schmid (Indiana) 71-68=139; T2. Rei Nakatani (UC Davis) 69-70=139; T2. Gioia Carpinelli (San Diego State) 66-73=139; T5. four players tied at 141.