RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA — Sparked by a 6-under 66 from first-day leader Alice Kim and a hole-in-one from sophomore Demi Runas during her round of 70, the defending champion UC Davis women’s golf team took the early lead Sunday at the Big West championships.

The 19th-ranked Aggies fired a 3-over 291 and lead second-seeded Long Beach State by one shot. Sophomore Amy Simanton provided a 77 for UCD, senior Chelsea Stelzmiller had a 78 and freshman Jessica Chulya carded a 79.

Seven teams and 35 players are competing for team and individual titles at Tijeras Creek Golf Club in Rancho Santa Margarita.

UC Irvine is in third at 9-over 297 while Cal Poly is in fourth at 12-over 300. Kim owns a one-shot lead over Monica Villareal of Long Beach State, who had a 67. Kim is three up on Amelia Ek of UC Riverside.

Runas is tied for third, Simanton and Stelzmiller are tied for 13th and 16th, respectively, and Chulya is tied for 20th.

Kim played a spectacular round at the 6,282-yard course, finishing with six birdies and 12 pars. She was especially hot on the front nine, opening with a birdie on the par-5 1st before adding three more and making her turn 4 under.

Kim birdied the 11th and 15th holes, posting the Aggies’ low round of the season.

Runas, just one of four players below par in the first round, was already 1 under when she aced the par-3 7th hole, pushing her score to 3 shots in the red. Another birdie at the 11th got her 4 under before three bogeys, three pars and a birdie the rest of the way brought her in with a 70.

Simanton had 13 pars and five bogeys during her round of 77, playing the front nine just 2 over. Stelzmiller’s 78 featured back-to-back birdies on the the par-4 12th and par-5 13th holes while Chulya had three birdies while shooting 79.

The tournament winner will secure the Big West’s automatic berth to the NCAA regionals. Play continues with 18 holes each on Monday and Tuesday.

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