Pinedo, Blandinieres lead Bruins to top-10 start at NAIA Championship
YPSILANTI, Mich. -- Seniors Maria Pinedo and Chloe Blandinieres each fired 5-over rounds of 77 to lead Bellevue University during Tuesday's opening round of the 2025 NAIA Women's Golf National Championship, hosted at Eagle Crest Golf Course (par 72, 5,895 yards).
Competing in their sixth consecutive national tournament, the Bruins played their best golf down the stretch, going just 4-over as a team on the back nine to vault nine spots on the leaderboard. BU finished the day tied for eighth place at 26-over-par (314), matching Oklahoma City and sitting just eight strokes back of the top three.
Top-ranked British Columbia leads the 30-team field at 9-over (297), followed by Marian (Ind.) at 13-over (301), and Keiser in third at 18-over (306).
Pinedo closed her round with seven consecutive pars, carding an even-par 36 on the back nine. Her day included a birdie on the par-5 10th and steady play throughout to finish in a tie for 27th out of 155 players.
Blandinieres matched Pinedo with a 77, highlighted by birdies on two of her final three holes — the par-5 16th and par-4 18th — to finish with a 1-over 37 on the closing nine. She also sits tied for 27th individually heading into Round 2.
The overall individual lead belongs to Sharon Shan of SCAD Savannah, who posted a blistering 7-under 65. She is four shots clear of Jessica Ng of British Columbia, who opened with a 3-under 69.
Freshman Tilde-Li Andersson turned in a 79 (+7), recording 11 pars, including five straight to close the round. She is currently tied for 43rd overall.
Senior Ilysia Ibnu posted an 81 (+9) with a 1-over 37 on the back nine that featured three birdies on holes 10, 14, and 18. She is tied for 71st place.
Junior Aaricia Noel-Traissac contributed a birdie on the par-4 12th and finished with a 91 (+19), tied for 137th after the first round.
The Bruins will return to the course for Round 2 on Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. (CT). After the second round, the 72-hole championship field will be cut to the top 15 teams (plus ties) and top six individuals (plus ties) not on advancing teams.
A total of 30 teams and 155 players are competing in this year's championship.