LITCHFIELD PARK, Ariz.— The Colorado Mesa University women's golf team and senior Payton Panzeri are both in the lead after 18 holes of the SMSU Challenge, which began Thursday here on the Wigwam Golf Resort's Blue Course.
 
Panzeri made three of the Mavs' five birdies and posted a 1-over par round of 71 on the par-70 course that played at 5,631 yards.  She leads the 62-player field by two shots heading into Friday's second and final round.
 
Her round of 71, enabled by birdies on the fifth, eight and 11^th holes was the best of her career by two shots.
 
The Mavs also received a round of 78 (+8) from redshirt senior Anju Ogi and three other rounds of 79 to post a team score of 307 (+27), good for a 3-shot cushion over Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference rival MSU Denver and the rest of the ten-team field.
 
Ogi, who had one birdie, is in ninth place while McKenzie Dolph, Hunter Gledhill and Libby Bourassa, who is playing as an individual, are all tied for 11^th alongside three other players at 79 (+9).
 
Hayden Hawley, put back in the Mavericks' scoring five after leading the Mavs in Tuesday's second round at the SMSU Spring Invitational on the resort's red course, posted an 84 (+14) on Thursday and is in 39^th place.
 
Rockhurst's Arantza Zepeda and Minnesota-Crookston's Anaka Lsyne are two shots off Panzeri's lead in the individual standings.
 
Friday's tee times will begin at 10:16 a.m.