Although in Tornado Alley, the University of Victoria Vikes women鈥檚 golf team was well north of the devastation wreaked on Moore, Oklahoma, this week.
Not that it was exactly mild and calm as the 2013 NAIA national championship began Tuesday at Wilderness Ridge Club in Lincoln, Nebraska.
鈥淭he wind was really howling and it was tough to play a good round,鈥� said UVic head coach Bryan Carbery, by phone from Lincoln.
It even affected the normally fine-shooting Canadian international Megan Woodland of UVic. The Claremont grad and defending NAIA individual champion, who won in 2012 with the best four-round total in the history of the tournament, opened with a seven-over-par 79 and was tied for 34th.
鈥淣obody was exactly ripping the course apart today 鈥� because of the weather,鈥� said Carbery.
Nobody except Heather Wiquist of Embry-Riddle College in Florida, who defied the first-round elements to open up an astonishing five-shot lead at two-under 70. Kylie Barros of UBC was among those tied for second place at three-over 75.
鈥淚 believe Megan [Woodland] will get back into the mix during the second round [today],鈥� said Carbery.
UVic is one of 27 teams to qualify for the NAIA nationals. The Vikes roster consists of Woodland, Brynn Tolmie, Michaela Misener, Michaela Abey, Emily Nicol and shot 326 to open Tuesday in 17th place in the team standings.
Embry-Riddle led at 301. Defending champion UBC was fifth at 312.
The NAIA championships conclude Friday.
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