A frost delay in the morning and darkness in the late afternoon left the first day of the Arizona Wildcat Invitational still in question.

All 18 teams in the tournament were left on the golf course with No. 8 ASU at the top of the leaderboard and the No. 20 Wildcats in a tie with Southern California for eighth place, nearing the end of completion of the second round.

“”After a tough week, it’s nice to come in here and play the way we know we can play,”” said Arizona head coach Greg Allen.

Even though Arizona isn’t where it would like to be at the end of the first day, Allen said it was nice to see the girls a little upset when they were making mistakes on the golf course.

“”I like the fact that a few of these girls are upset with their mistakes,”” he said. “”I love seeing that fire and desire and competitive edge coming out.””

The field is one of the best of the spring semester, with 12 of the top 16 teams in the nation playing the 6,166-yard, par-71 Arizona National Golf Course, including No. 1 Duke, a squad in third place, four shots back of the Sun Devils.

Individually, senior Cassandra Kirkland is tied for 22nd place after shooting a first-round 69, but is 4-over-par through 16 holes in her second round of the day.

Kirkland ended the morning round in fourth place, highlighted by an eagle on the finishing par-5 18th hole.

“”I hit a great drive and I choked up on the grip with my (utility club),”” Kirkland said. “”I hit it pretty close, but it rolled behind (the green).

“”It was a tough chip because I didn’t have much green to work with, and I hit my lob (wedge) and it checked well, and it rolled into the hole.””

Freshman Amanda Wilson is playing well, as she is tied with Kirkland in 22nd place. She shot even par in her second round through 16 holes.

With the Wildcats 19 shots back of ASU, Allen said it would be nice to just come out and finish the way the team knows how to finish.

“”I’d love to be able to finish top three and top five,”” Allen said. “”In golf, you aren’t always going to win, but if you play well you can be happy with the way you played.

“”I just want to finish tomorrow knowing we played well.””