Photo by: Columbia University Athletics / Stockton Photo, Inc.
Women’s Golf Leads After Round 1 at Old Barnwell
3/1/2026 8:35:00 PM | Women's Golf
Xu (-4), Zeng (-2) sit first and second on the individual leaderboard
AIKEN, S.C. — The Columbia women's golf team fired an opening-round 1-under-par 291 and leads the 12-team field at the More Than Golf Invitational, presented by Bank of America. The first round of the three-round event was contested on Sunday at Old Barnwell.
The Lions were led by first-year duo Kristina Xu and Emily Zeng, who are first and second on the individual leaderboard. Xu carded seven birdies and three bogeys for a 4-under-par 69. Sitting at 1 under through 13, she birdied three of her next four holes before capping off the round with a closing par at the 375-yard 18th. Zeng was 1 over through five before birdieing the par-4 sixth and par-4 ninth to get to red numbers. She followed with five straight pars before back-to-back birdies at the par-5 15th and 16th. A bogey at the last brought her in with a 2-under 71.
Xu and Zeng were two of just four players in the field of 63 to shoot under-par rounds on Sunday. The par-73, 6,255-yard course's scoring average for the day was 78.10.
Sophomore Sarah Shao is tied for 14th after an opening 2-over 75. First year Bridget Chantharath, sophomore Christine Chang and first year Camille Thai all shot rounds of 3-over 76, and are tied for 20th. Emily Luo is just outside the top 25 after an opening 77.
Columbia (-1) leads second-place Tulsa (+2) by three shots. Denver (+7) is another five shots behind in third, followed by Radford (+10) and Southern Miss (+11) to round out the top five.
Monday's second round begins at 10:30 a.m. The Lions will tee off in threesomes with competitors from Tulsa and Denver, beginning at 11:20.
FOLLOW THE LIONS:
For the latest on Columbia women's golf, follow @CULionsWGolf on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.
The Lions were led by first-year duo Kristina Xu and Emily Zeng, who are first and second on the individual leaderboard. Xu carded seven birdies and three bogeys for a 4-under-par 69. Sitting at 1 under through 13, she birdied three of her next four holes before capping off the round with a closing par at the 375-yard 18th. Zeng was 1 over through five before birdieing the par-4 sixth and par-4 ninth to get to red numbers. She followed with five straight pars before back-to-back birdies at the par-5 15th and 16th. A bogey at the last brought her in with a 2-under 71.
Xu and Zeng were two of just four players in the field of 63 to shoot under-par rounds on Sunday. The par-73, 6,255-yard course's scoring average for the day was 78.10.
Sophomore Sarah Shao is tied for 14th after an opening 2-over 75. First year Bridget Chantharath, sophomore Christine Chang and first year Camille Thai all shot rounds of 3-over 76, and are tied for 20th. Emily Luo is just outside the top 25 after an opening 77.
Columbia (-1) leads second-place Tulsa (+2) by three shots. Denver (+7) is another five shots behind in third, followed by Radford (+10) and Southern Miss (+11) to round out the top five.
Monday's second round begins at 10:30 a.m. The Lions will tee off in threesomes with competitors from Tulsa and Denver, beginning at 11:20.
FOLLOW THE LIONS:
For the latest on Columbia women's golf, follow @CULionsWGolf on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
Feature: WGOLF | Xu Wins Battle at the Creek
Monday, September 29
