AMARILLO, Texas – Midwestern State sophomore Kendra Whittley fired an 8-over-par 80 to rank in the top 20 Sunday in the first round of the NCAA Division II West Regional at the Tascosa Country Club in Amarillo.

Whittley, from Wall, is tied for 17th playing as an individual in the championship. She battled Sunday's conditions that saw temperatures in the low 40's with 25-to-35 mph northeasterly winds to finish just seven strokes off the lead.  Tarleton State's Carla Cooper has that spot with a one-over 73 on the par-72, 5,964 yard course. There's a five-way tie for second at four-over 76.

Whittley suffered double-bogeys on one and eight, but played the rest of the front nine even.

On the back side, she posted back-to-back bogeys at 10 and 11, then 14 and 15 before chalking up her only birdie on the par-4 16th. She gave it back with a bogey on 18.

In the team competition, Tarleton State leads the way at 307, with Cal State-Monterey Bay and St. Edward's tied for second at 318.

The second of three rounds is Monday, starting at 10 a.m.