TUCSON, Ariz. – University of Hawai'i freshman Varnika S. Achanta carded a 3-under 69 in the opening round of the MountainView Collegiate Sunday at The Preserve Golf Club.
 
The San Jose, Calif., native is one of four golfers tied for second place, one stroke off the lead held by Oklahoma's Audrey Rischer. Achanta posted four birdies and one bogey on her round, which she finished 4-under over her final 10 holes.
 
The 69 is tied for the low round by a Rainbow Wahine this season, also posted by Maline Kraus at the Ron Moore Intercollegiate in October.
 
The Rainbow Wahine, who carded a 5-over 293 and sit in 11^th place, played with only four golfers as Kraus withdrew due to illness. That didn't prevent the rest of the team from playing solid golf as Sofina Firouzi, Kellie Yamane, and Emiko Sverduk carded solid scores.
 
Firouzi shot a career-low 1-over 73 and is tied for 26^th; Yamane carded 3-over 75 and is tied for 49^th; and Sverduk shot 4-over 76 and is tied for 58^th.

HUGE opening round for Varnika!

T-2nd, one stroke off the lead
3-under 69#GoBows pic.twitter.com/UrHaNvp2MN

— U. of Hawaii Golf (@UHawaiiGolf) March 2, 2025

 
Oklahoma leads the team standings at 282 followed by TCU (283), and Cincinnati (289). A group of six teams, including co-hosts Kansas State and Missouri, are tied for fourth at 290.
 
The second round is scheduled for Monday with tee times beginning at 8:00 a.m. MT off of Nos. 1 and 10.

11. Hawai'i 293 (+5)
T-2. V. Achanta 69 (-3)
T-26. S. Firouzi 73 (+1)
T-49. K. Yamane 75 (+3)
T-58. E. Sverduk 76 (+4)
N/A. M. Kraus WD