By Zach Stipe, Media Relations Assistant
WOLCOTT, Colo. – Junior Nathalie Mansson fired an even-par 72 to lead the 12th-ranked Tennessee Lady Vol golf team on Sunday during first  round action at the Golfweek Conference Challenge.
UT heads into the second day of the 54-hole tournament in 11th place among 18 teams after carding a 304 (+16) total on day one at the Red Sky Golf Club.
Tee times for round two have not been released, but the Lady Vols will likely tee off at noon ET. Live results can be found at golfstat.com.
Mansson offset three bogeys with three birdies to record the 29th round of par or better of her career which ties her with Nicole Smith for fourth all-time in Lady Vol history. Marci Turner and Young-A Yang hold the UT career record at 36. The Stockholm, Sweden native is tied for 10th with 36 holes left to play.
Starting from No. 10, sophomore Erica Popson, playing in her first tournament of the season, rebounded from a rough first nine to play spectacular on the front side. She was 6-over at the turn, but tallied four birdies and two bogeys on the front nine to finish the first round with a 4-over 76. She is tied for 34th.
Sophomore Sara Monberg was even at the turn, but had three bogeys and a double over her final nine holes to finish with a 5-over 77 and in a tie for 45th.
Rounding out the scores for the Big Orange were freshmen Chessey Thomas (7-over 79), who is tied for 56th, and sophomore Leigh Henderson (9-over 81), who is in a deadlock at 67th.
"Nathalie had a solid round today," Lady Vol head coach Judi Pavon said. "Erica played a great second nine after a shaky start. The golf course is awesome and we are getting adjusted to the altitude and the quick greens. We are suffering from a lack of confidence, but are working on getting better."
Virginia and Tulane both fired 1-under 287s on the first day of play and are tied for first. The Cavaliers' Brittany Altomore and UNLV's Therese Koelback are tied for first on the individual leaderboard after tallying 3-under 69s.
In its first year, the Golfweek Conference Challenge pits 18 teams –each from a different conference – against each other at the beautiful and scenic Wolcott, Colo. Red Sky Golf Club.
Lady Vol Scores:
T10.   Nathalie Mansson         72 (E)
T34.   Erica Popson               76 (+4)
T45.   Sara Monberg              77 (+5)
T56.   Chessey Thomas         79 (+7)
T67.   Leigh Henderson          81 (+9)
11.     Tennessee                  304 (+16)

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