Last year's Dalhousie champ sits within striking distance

Ani Gulugian drives from the 16th tee Wednesday during the first round of the AJGA's Rolex Tournament of Champions at Dalhousie Golf Club. (Kit Doyle) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

Ani Gulugian knows her way around Dalhousie Golf Club, and even better knows how to win there.

So it wasn't much of a surprise to see the winner of last year's Dalhousie Junior Championship among the leaders after Wednesday's first round of the AJGA's Rolex Tournament of Champions.

"I kind of took this as a completely new tournament," Gulugian said. "It definitely helps knowing the course a little bit."

Gulugian finished at 2-under 70, four strokes behind Victoria Tanco, the leader. But Gulugian thought she could have been closer.

Ani Gulugian, right, and Danielle Frasier watch as Doris Chen drives from the 16th tee during Wednesday's opening round of the AJGA's Rolex Tournament of Champions at Dalhousie Golf Club. [Click to enlarge]

"I was missing a lot of putts," she said. "I left so many birdies and I was kind of getting frustrating.

"I was leaving a lot short. Then a lot were just hanging there."

Gulugian mounted a charge late in her round when she trimmed her deficit to three strokes with birdies on Nos. 16 and 17.

"It did feel good," she said of the birdies. "I was like, 'Yes, finally I'm making these putts.'"

She stepped to No. 18, statistically the easiest hole of the day, with a chance to slice deeper into Tanco's lead.

"On 18, I came up a little bit short and I three-putted," she said.

The bogey on No. 18 left her with a 70 and tied with three other players for third place.

It was a better start than she got off to last year, when she opened with a 78. But she followed that with a pair of 68s to win the title by eight strokes.

One of the reasons she isn't focusing on last year is because the competition is stiffer at this year's tournament. But that doesn't mean she's feeling any pressure.

"I find it to be more fun," she said. "I'm trying to get my ranking up, get some more points and obviously win this tournament."

Gulugian finished her round with five birdies, three bogeys and 10 pars. She planned to attend the players' fish fry after her round and turn in early since she's scheduled to tee off today at 8:12 a.m.

"I'm pretty tired," she said of her plans. "I'm going to go to bed."