SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – The No. 14 seed UCLA women's golf team finished third (+7, 295) after round one of the NCAA Championships at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz., on Friday.
 
The Bruins concluded the first day six strokes shy of Stanford (+1, 289) and three strokes behind Texas A&M (+4, 292). UCLA was in third place, while Auburn, Florida State and LSU were tied in fourth place (+8, 296).
 
Ty Akabane finished in a three-way tie for third place at 1-under 71 as a top-five finisher on day one at Grayhawk Golf Club, which plays at 6,384 yards and as a par 72. Akabane recorded the Bruins' top individual finish. She shot 1-under 35 through her final nine holes and had birdies on three of her final six tees (par-5 4th, par-3 8th and par-4 9th).
 
Emma Spitz and Alessia Nobilio both finished 2-over 74 (tied for 27th). Nobilio totaled three birdies, including the par-4 17th, the par-5 4th and the par-3 8th holes. Spitz birdied the par-3 13th and the par-5 7th hole.
 
Carolina Canales concluded day one at 4-over 76, while Emilie Paltrinieri shot 6-over 78. Canales and Paltrinieri had three birdies each on Friday.
 
UCLA began round one of stroke play competition on the 10th tee at 6:30 a.m. PT (with Baylor and LSU).
 
The Bruins are scheduled to begin round two of stroke play on the first tee at approximately 11:40 a.m. (PT) on Saturday, alongside LSU and Baylor.
 
About the NCAA Championships: The six-day event includes 24 teams and 12 individuals that are completing 54 holes of stroke play across the first three days (Friday, May 20 through Sunday, May 22). After those three days, the top 15 teams (along with the top nine individuals not on an advancing team) will compete for one additional day of stroke play on Monday, May 23 to determine the top eight teams for match play competition, as well as the 72-hole stroke play individual champion.
 
The top eight teams will begin match play on Tuesday, May 24, and the team national championship will be decided on the final day on Wednesday, May 25.
 
Recapping Regionals: The Bruins tied for second place (+13, 877) in the 14-team field at the NCAA Tallahassee Regionals, hosted by Seminole Legacy Golf Club, to advance to the program's 33rd NCAA Championship tournament. UCLA finished in the top three at NCAA Regionals for the fourth consecutive season.