Sophomore Corie Hou shot an even-par 72 to lead the University of Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine golf team into first place after today's opening round of the Western Athletic Conference Championship in Fresno, Calif. Hawai'i, with four players in the top 11, shot a 13-over-par 301 at Sunnyside Golf Course.

UH, No. 73 in the GolfWeek/Sagarin Performance Index, holds an eight-shot lead over host Fresno State and 38th-ranked San Jose State. Idaho and New Mexico State share fourth at 312, followed by Nevada (316) and Boise State (324).

Hou finished fourth in the WAC as a freshman, helping Hawai'i to a WAC-best third-place finish. Senior teammates Xyra Suyetsugu (75) and Lisa Kajihara (76) are fourth and seven, while Phyllis Lai shot 78 to share 11th. Carolina Perez (84) is tied for 32nd.

Maui's Kelly Nakashima shot 75 to lead defending champion Idaho. Kaua'i's Jennie Pleas (81), a Nevada senior, is tied for 23rd.

The tournament ends tomorrow. The Rainbow Wahine need to win the WAC to advance to the NCAA Championship for the second year in a row. The NCAA West Regional is May 6 to 8 at Lincoln Hills Golf Club in Sacramento, Calif.