Mailen Domecq Chantry had an outstanding freshman season at Nova Southeastern, with two victories to her credit and a fifth-place showing in the 2015 Women’s NCAA Division II Finals.

But the Argentine’s second year at the Florida school … let’s just say she’s experienced a bit of a sophomore slump. She has just one finish in the top 20 (a 10th-place showing) and owns a 78.4 stroke average, the highest on her team.

But on Wednesday, in the most important tournament of the season, Chantry found her peak form. In the opening round of the NCAA DII Finals at CommonGround Golf Course, she grabbed the lead with a 3-under-par 69 — her best score of the season by three shots.

“I didn’t play that good this season actually,” she said after her round. “The freshman year was much better than the sophomore, so hopefully I can finish strong this year. It’s golf. It comes and goes. Hopefully it comes again.”

While there’s still three rounds remaining, suffice it to say Chantry is off to a near-ideal start. She was one of just five players who broke par at CommonGround on Wednesday.

Chantry (pictured above) holds a one-stroke advantage over freshman Brinn Fariss of Dallas Baptist and Augustana (South Dakota’s) Marisa Toivonen, who posted 70s. Vilde Eriksen of Saint Leo and Lexie Toth of Rollins College carded 71s.

Team-wise, five-time national champion and top-ranked Rollins and fellow Florida school Nova Southeastern (a four-time champ) share the lead at 2-over-par 290, with Dallas Baptist three back.

Chantry used a 60-foot birdie on the first hole (her 10th) as a spark to shoot a 4-under-par 32 on her final nine holes.

“It was a pretty nice day,” she said. “I holed very good putts and I feel very comfortable on the course, so I enjoyed it a lot.

“I’m from Argentina, and the courses are like this. (CommonGround is) pretty similar to where I live. I’m used to these kind of courses, and it’s in amazing shape.”

Now, if she can just keep the good vibe going for three more rounds.

“We have three more days, so day by day, shot by shot, try to do my best, and let’s see what happens,” she said.

Toivonen and Fariss (left) likewise finished strong on Wednesday. Toivonen made three of her six birdies in the last four holes. And Fariss rallied after being 2 over through four holes to play her final 13 holes in 4 under. That stretch included a 30-foot chip-in for birdie at No. 18.

“Personally I haven’t played very good these last two semsters, but it’s starting to come together now,” Fariss said. “I came out here pretty prepared to play and I’ve been playing good in practice. So I expected to play pretty well.”

The women’s tourney — and the men’s DII finals at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club — are part of the NCAA Division II National Championships Festival in which titles in six sports (M&W golf, M&W tennis, softball and women’s lacrosse) will be decided.

Tickets for the DII National Festival are $5 per person per day, or $15 for an all-session pass for the week. Tickets purchased at one site will be valid at all other competition sites.

For more information on the Spring Sports Festival, CLICK HERE.
 

For scores from the women’s tournament, CLICK HERE.