RAPID CITY - There is one team on everyone's radar at the NAIA Women's Golf National Championships: Oklahoma City University.

Oklahoma City is seeking its fifth-consecutive women's golf national championship, and senior Christina Cung and sophomore Laura Jones are helping lead the way for the team everyone wants to dethrone.

"We know we're expected to win," said Jones, who hails from Liverpool, England, where she played on the Under-18 national team. "It is always good to live up to expectations. We know how many good teams are here and how bad they want to win. But we're going to keep working hard, and we're not going to let up."

On the opening day of the national tournament, Oklahoma City shot a 302 led by Cung, who fired a first day 73, Jones, who shot a 76 and Ashley Sholer, with a 76. All five golfers on the team shot under a 77 on Day 1. It is something they are looking to build on in the later rounds.

"The No. 1 key to our success has been that all the girls on the team have the same internal drive," said Cung. "We also have an awesome coach who motivates us and takes care of us. This is my last tournament ever, so of course I want the team to win, but also break records. I want to leave on a great note."

Oklahoma City coach M.J. Desbiens points to the success of Jones and Cung, whose scores qualified in all four rounds at last year's national championships, as a major reason for their national championship last season. Jones finished ninth overall, and Cung finished in 20th.

"This is a very eclectic group of girls who come from all over the place," said Desbiens. "We've done some really good recruiting and in the past couple years. These girls have really grown into some quality players."

Jones and Cung said it is because of their emotional maturity that they have been able to deal with the pressure of competing in a national tournament.

"I really don't let anything get to me," said Cung. "And that goes for on and off the course, so I think that helps me a lot. If I hit a bad shot or something goes wrong it's not the end of the world for me."

"I used to let my emotions get to me quite a lot," said Jones. "But I've overcome that mental barrier and that has given me an edge that I didn't have before."

Cung just graduated with a degree in biology, and Jones is majoring in kinesiology.