Experience paid off for Colorado women’s golf on Monday at Chambers Bay.
On a day that stretched nearly 11 hours at the links-style course in University Place, Wash., the Buffaloes opened the Leadership and Golf Invitational in second place at 3-under after 36 holes, staying steady while much of the field faded. Colorado’s all five golfers from last year’s event delivered a strong start, and only Tulsa managed to edge ahead late, rallying with three birdies over its final three holes to take the first-day lead at 5-under.
Colorado will head into Tuesday’s final 18 holes two shots back of Tulsa. Oregon State sits third at 1-under, with SMU at even par and defending event champion Eastern Michigan at 3-over.
Head coach Madeleine Sheils said the Buffs handled the course the right way.
"It was a really great day out there for the Buffs," Sheils said. "I think they played incredibly steady, smart, and controlled golf. We didn't see so many of the big numbers that have plagued us on this golf course in the past."
Colorado opened with a 2-under round that put it in a three-way tie for third after the morning session, trailing SMU and Oregon State. The afternoon brought tougher conditions for most teams, but the Buffaloes kept moving in the right direction and finished the second round at 1-under, one of only two teams to go under par in that session alongside Tulsa.
"They did an awesome job of embracing what the links here give you," Sheils said. "We saw a ton of flighted shots through the wind, low-lofted chips, and strong lag putting.
"Experience definitely helped. They are well aware of how to play this course and their maturity showed today."
Maya McVey led the way with a 4-under 140, good for a tie for third individually. The senior posted rounds of 71 and 69 and is only two shots off the lead entering the final round.
Her day had a few bumps, but not enough to slow her down. McVey was 2-over through seven holes before catching fire with four birdies over the next six and getting to 2-under.
She opened the second round with a double bogey on the par-4 seventh, but recovered immediately and never blinked again. Back-to-back birdies at the 10th and 11th erased that mistake, and she finished the final 17 holes with five birdies and 12 pars.
"Really fantastic day by Maya," Sheils said. "She stayed steady and patient until the very end. Finishing so strong on a day this long is no easy feat."
Ellen O'Shaughnessy also gave Colorado a consistent scorecard, sitting tied for 13th at even par after rounds of 73 and 71. The junior never drifted far from par all day, staying within two strokes of it the entire round and mostly within one.
She opened with a 73, then played the back nine in a clean stretch that included seven straight pars. In the afternoon, she dropped a stroke on her second hole, the par-4 fifth, then settled in and played mistake-free the rest of the way.
A birdie at the par-5 eighth pushed her back into the red, and she later added another at the par-3 17th.
Carolyn Fuller matched McVey with Colorado’s low round of the day, shooting a 69 in the morning to reach 2-over for the tournament and sit tied for 18th. Fuller was 1-over through 10 holes before catching fire late in the first round, rolling in five birdies in a seven-hole span, including three straight from the 18th through the first and second. She followed that with a 77 in round two, but her opening effort kept her firmly in the mix.
Colorado’s two second-year players also held their own. Teemapat Pateetin is tied for 21st at 3-over after a 76 and a 71, and she closed her final eight holes of the day at 2-under. Brenna Higgins is tied for 37th at 5-over after rounds of 73 and 76.
Oregon State’s Raya Nakao leads the individual race at 6-under. Nina Choe of UC Davis is one shot back at 5-under, while McVey and Tulsa’s Zoe Shamy are tied for third at 4-under.
Tuesday’s final round will begin with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. MT.
Fuller’s 69 was the 10th round in the 60s of her career, moving her into third place in school history and just one shy of the record of 11 shared by Esther Lee and Kirsty Hodgkins. It was also her 16th career under-par round, putting her alone in eighth on Colorado’s all-time list.
McVey’s 69 was her third round in the 60s as a Buffalo. Colorado’s 3-under total over 36 holes was 23 strokes better than its opening day score at the 2025 Leadership and Golf event, when the Buffs finished tied for ninth at 34-over.
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