Xavier is halfway home to regaining the state title after the Gators turned in a first-round score of 292 on Friday at the Division I state girls golf tournament at Aguila Golf Course in Laveen.

Xavier's total of 4-over par leads defending champion Hamilton, which is second at 299. Xavier also has the individual leader in Madison Kerley. Kerley shot a 4-under 68. That's one shot ahead of defending champ Kyung Kim of Hamilton.

Alone in third place is Chaparral's Jacquie LeMarr (70) followed by Xavier's Sarah Schmelzel (71), Hamilton's Mikayla Harmon (73), Dobson's Charatta Thongbai (74), Xavier's Ariana Macioce (75), Cibola's Yesong Han (75), Mountain Pointe's Darian Spivey (75) and Highland's Alexa Schendelman (76).

In Division II also at Aguila, it's another two-team race. Salpointe with an opening-round total of 315 leads Notre Dame Prep by 16 strokes. Salpointe also has the individual leader in Krystal Quihuis. Quihuis shot a 4-under 68 and is the only player under par in D-II. She leads a trio of players at 75 -- Cactus Shadows' Abbie Cantwell, Canyon del Oro's Morgan Messick and Notre Dame's Kelsie Sanborn.

Division I tees off for the final round on Saturday beginning at 6:45 a.m.