GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Senior Juanita Gomez fired a 2-over 74 to lead Midwestern State in the opening round of the Ruidoso Junior Golf Association's Palm Valley Classic Friday on Friday afternoon.

The Mustangs combined for a 20-over team total of 308 to stand 15th in the 28-team field and are just five strokes out of seventh place.

Gomez carded a team-best two birdies -- both on par-4s. The Medellin, Colombia native was even on the Front Nine, then fought back after taking two of her three bogeys on the back side on consecutive holes before making birdie on the 17th hole.

Gomez is six strokes off of the pace of tournament co-leaders Gam Songprasert of West Texas A&M and Cal State-Monterey Bay's Isabel Carpenter. Both fired a 4-under 68.

MSU junior Beatrice Perucchini recorded 14 pars and birdied the par-4, 365-yard 15th hole on her way to a 4-over 76 to tie for 35th.

Freshman Brecklyn Flanagan tied for 49th with a 5-over 77, while fellow frosh Hollie James is tied for 96th with a 9-over 81.

Makenna Henry battled through an 86 to tie for 138th, while Salome Arango tied for 74th with a 7-over 79 competing as an individual medalist only.

Cal State Monterey takes a 10-stroke lead into the final round with a 1-under team total of 287.

Midwestern State tees off for the final round of the Palm Valley Classic Saturday afternoon at 1:50 p.m. (Central Time).
         

RJGA Palm Valley Classic

Team Leaderboard

Pos	Team	To Par	R1	R2	Total
1	Cal State Monterey Bay	-1	287	---	287
2	Cal State East Bay	+9	297	---	297
	Cal State Los Angeles	+9	297	---	297
4	Northeastern State	+10	298	---	298
	Colorado Christian	+10	298	---	298
6	Oklahoma Christian	+12	300	---	300
7	UC Colorado Springs	+15	303	---	303
	Dominican (Calif.)	+15	303	---	303
9	West Texas A&M	+16	304	---	304
	Cameron	+16	304	---	304
11	Colorado State-Pueblo	+17	305	---	305
	Western New Mexico	+17	305	---	305
13	UT Tyler	+18	306	---	306
14	Texas A&M-Commerce	+19	307	---	307
15	Midwestern  State	+20	308	---	308
16	Holy Names	+23	311	---	311
	Western Washington	+23	311	---	311
18	Academy of Art (Calif.)	+26	314	---	314
	MSU Denver	+26	314	---	314
20	Point Loma (Calif.)	+27	315	---	315
21	Northwest Nazarene (Idaho)	+28	316	---	316
22	Colorado Mesa	+29	317	---	317
23	Simon Fraser (B.C.)	+30	318	---	318
24	Hawaii-Hilo	+31	319	---	319
25	Fort Lewis (Colo.)	+34	322	---	322
26	St. Martin's (Wash.)	+37	325	---	325
27	Chico State (Calif.)	+44	332	---	332
	Montana State-Billings	+44	332	---	332

  

Individual Leaderboard

Pos	Player	Team	To Par	R1	R2	Total
1	Gam Songprasert	West Texas A&M	-4	68	--	68
	Isabel Carpenter	Cal State-Monterey Bay	-4	68	--	68
3	Faith Kilgore	Colorado Christian	-3	69	--	69
4	Iona Roska	Cameron	-2	70	--	70
	Marie Dean	Cal State-Los Angeles	-2	70	--	70
6	Jasmin Krishna	Cal State-East Bay	-1	71	--	71
7	Morgan Sjoerdsma	Cal State-Los Angeles	E	72	--	72
	Kaylee Petersen	Northeastern State	E	72	--	72
	Drishti Karumbaya	Cal State-East Bay	E	72	--	72
	Zoe Offield	Cal State-Monterey Bay	E	72	--	72
	Ana Valeria Enriquez	Western New Mexico	E	72	--	72
	Madison Gridley	Northwest Nazarene	E	72	--	72

  

Midwestern State Scorecard

15	Midwestern State	+20	308	---	962
Place	Player	To Par	Round 1	Round 2	Total
T18	Juanita Gomez (1)	+2	74	--	74
T35	Beatrice Perucchini (2)	+4	76	--	76
T48	Brecklyn Flanagan (3)	+5	77	--	77
T96	Hollie James (5)	+9	81	--	81
T138	Makenna Henry (4)	+14	86	--	86
T74	Salome Arango (I)	+7	79	--	79