ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Reigning three-time NCAA champion Duke has its work cut out for them at the NCAA Women's Championship after digging a 15-stroke first-round hole.

The Blue Devils carded an 11-over-par 299 on Tuesday to find themselves 15 strokes back of first-round leading Southern California (284) and in 18th place at the University of New Mexico Championship Golf Course.

The Trojans lead by five strokes over UCLA and Auburn (289). Wake Forest (293), led by Nannette Hill's record-setting five-under 67, is tied for fifth. Virginia (296) is eighth.

"Our mindset is good," Duke coach Dan Brooks said. "I got the reaction from my team that I thought I would get. I went over and said a bunch of things that I didn't need to say to them because they were already there. They know how golf is and they know that the score needs to unfold on its own.

"Because it is a big picture — it is a four-day tournament. I know they are on board with that."

If there is a silver lining for Duke, then it is that since registering its first NCAA title in 1999, the Blue Devils have never led after day one at the NCAA Championship. The 15-stroke deficit going into the second round is the largest during that period, though.

"Coach [Brooks] is excited about how we are playing," said Amanda Blumenherst, who opened with a 3-over 75. "A few things didn't go our way [today] but we are just going to have to be patient out there, stay focused and not let this leaderboard get to us. We have three more rounds and anything can happen."

Carding the best round of the day for Duke was senior Jennifer Pandolfi, who is vying to close out her career as the first golfer in NCAA history to win four NCAA Championships. She totaled a 73 and is tied for 23rd, individually.

Following Pandolfi were Jennie Lee (74), Blumenherst, freshamn Kim Donovan (77) and Alison Whitaker (82), who notched three of the Blue Devils' eight combined birdies.

Hill's championship-leading round also stands as the best postseason round in the history of Wake Forest women's golf. Sonia Bauer was the previous record holder with a 4-under 68 in the second round of the 1997 NCAA Championship at the Scarlet Course in Columbus, Ohio.

Hill had never posted a round at even par or under during her first two NCAA Championship competitions in 2006 and 2007. Hill's best rounds in the championship coming into Tuesday were two-over 74s in the third round of the 2006 and 2007 NCAA Championship.

N.C. State junior Lauren Doughtie, the first Wolfpack player to qualify for the NCAA Championships, fired a 4-over 76 and is tied for 68th.