ChampiThe Minnesota women's golf team is in 14th place after the first round of the NCAA Central Regional in West Lafayette, Ind. The top eight teams in the 21-team regional will qualify for the NCAA Championship, beginning May 22.

Purdue, the tournament host, is in first place by three strokes after carding a 295 in the opening round. Texas is second at 298, followed by Kent State at 299. Minnesota shot a team score of 318, which is nine strokes behind the eighth and final spot to go to the NCAA Tournament.

Individually, Tulsa's Stacy Prammanasudh shot a 2-under-par 70 to take a one-shot lead over Kari Damron of Purdue and Linda Wessburg of Oklahoma State. Minnesota's Cindy Cannon had the low round of the day for the Gophers with a 78, and is tied for 36th place.

The 54-hole regional continues with an 18-hole round on Friday.

NCAA CENTRAL REGION CHAMPIONSHIP Kampen Course, West Lafayette, Ind. (Par 72) TEAM SCORES -- Purdue 295, Texas 298, Kent State 299, Tulsa 300, New Mexico State 303, Oklahoma State 304, Louisiana State 305, Baylor 309, California 309, Florida 312, Oklahoma 314, Alabama 317, Central Florida 317, MINNESOTA 318, Nebraska 319, Texas Tech 319, Idaho 319, Princeton 321, Texas A&M 324, San Francisco 330, Oral Roberts 333. INDIVIDUAL LEADERS -- Stacy Prammanasudh, Tulsa, 70; Linda Wessburg, Oklahoma State, 71; Kari Damron, 71; Heather Zielinski, Purdue, 72; Suzie Fisher, Tulsa, 72; Vikki Laing, California, 72; Krista Tuutti, New Mexico State, 73; Kristin Dufour, Texas, 73; Six golfers tied for ninth at 74. GOPHERS -- 36. Cindy Cannon, 78; 61. Jenny Bruun, 80; 61. Megan Stier, 80; 61. Karyn Stordahl, 80; 72. Katie Bakken, 81.