MAKANDA - The defending champion University High School girls golf team braved windy and chilly conditions en route to the first-round lead of the Girls Class AA State Tournament at Stone Creek Golf Course.

Junior Cheryl Liang shot a 6-over par 78 to lead the Pioneers to a team total of 317 and a five-shot lead over Hinsdale Central. Laing currently stands in eighth place in the individual chase.

"This is a real good score for a day like this as all six girls played well," said U High coach Cal Hubbard on dealing with the cold and windy morning weather. "Nobody was great but everybody was decent. You want to put yourself in a good position on the first day."

One shot back of Liang for U High after carding 7-over-par 79s (tied for 10th individually) are juniors Chelsea Harris and Kaitlyn Wampler. Senior Erica Woodall recorded a 9-over-par 81 and sits in 20th position. Christine Liang and Janelle Galloway each shot 82 and did not figure in the team scoring for the first round.

"The conditions were tough early so I was just trying to do the best I could," said Wampler. "As the day went on it got better."

So what is the team's mindset going from Friday to today and the pressure to repeat as state champs?

"I think it's really hard to repeat at anything but I think we've got a group of girls who are achievers," said Hubbard. "They really work hard at whatever they're doing."

"There's more pressure this time to repeat," added Wampler. "But I think we've all handled it really well."

Hinsdale Central's Rebecca Lederhausen fired a 1-under par 71 to lead all individuals.

Scott Mees of The Southern contributed to this story