BROOMFIELD -- Colorado freshman Emily Childs has accomplished plenty in her young golf career, so not much that she does surprises people who know her.

But what she did Monday astonished some observers, including Childs' coach.

The 18-year-old made 15 birdies over two rounds at the Omni Interlocken Golf Club to sit in third place individually in CU's Heather Farr Memorial Invitational.

"Fifteen?" was CU coach Anne Kelly's reaction to Childs' day-long tally. "Oh my gosh. Wow!"

The product of Alameda, Calif., posted rounds of 4-under-par 68 and 2-under 70 for a 6-under 138 total. Only Kay Hoey of Cal State Long Beach and So-Hyun Park of Notre Dame, both at 8-under 136, are ahead of Childs.

"I've been playing real well lately and hitting it real close," Childs said Monday. "But 15 is quite a few."

Childs, who has finished second and seventh in her two college tournaments so far, looks to be in very good shape for another top-10 performance, and perhaps even her first college win. But she's also helped the Buffs stay in contention for the Heather Farr team title, which CU captured a year ago.

Colorado, which held the lead after the first round, stands in second place in the 20-team field going into today's final round. Notre Dame leads at 5-under-par 571, with the Buffs six shots behind.

CU junior Dominique Pytlewski, runner-up in this tournament last year, shot 68-77--145 Monday to also stand in the top 20, along with freshman teammate Emily Talley (73-73--146).

"We had some real good scores, but I think there are some players who are not satisfied," Kelly said. "And knowing Emily Childs, she's probably upset at making 15 birdies and not being more under par."

Indeed, while Childs racked up eight birdies in round 1 and seven more in round 2 (including on three of her last four holes) she offset those with seven bogeys and one double bogey.

While it may surprise others that a freshman is leading the way for the Buffs this year, it doesn't faze Childs herself. And it's no wonder considering the year she's had so far in 2008. Besides winning the prestigious San Francisco City Championship, Childs also made headlines in a significant men's amateur tournament this year.

At the Commuters championship in Alameda in April, while she played the same tees as the men, Childs became the first female ever to survive the cut in the event.

As for the present, Childs is focused on leading CU to its first team victory of the season and fourth in the history of the program.

"We've had a hard time playing well at the same time," Childs said of CU's top five golfers. "We need to get that together. When we do that, I think we could win everything."

The final round of the Heather Farr tournament will be held today, with an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start.

"With this being our home tournament, we definitely want to win," Kelly said.

CU Heather Farr Memorial

Invitational

At Par-72 Omni Interlocken GC

Broomfield

Team scores -- 1. Notre Dame 288-283--571; 2. Colorado 286-291--577; 3. Cal State-Long Beach 289-292--581; 4. Texas Tech 299-283--582; 5. Colorado State 289-295--584; 6. Cal-Davis 302-286--588; 7. Georgia State 288-304--592; 8. Fresno State 291-303--594; 9. San Diego State 293-302--595; 10. Gonzaga 300-299--599; 11. Wyoming 306-294--600; 12. Boise State 298-303--601; 13. Idaho 299-305--604; 14. Nevada 307-302--609; 15. (tie) Hawaii 307-304--611; Portland State 311-300--611; 17. (tie) Eastern Washington 308-305--613; Northern Colorado 308-305--613; 19. Montana State 310-310--620; 20. Weber State 315-306--621.

Top individuals -- 1. (tie) Kay Hoey, Cal State Long Beach 65-71--136; So-Hyun Park, Notre Dame, 70-66--136; 3. Emily Childs, Colorado, 68-70--138; 4. Lee Lopez, Cal State Long Beach, 69-70--139; 5. (tie) Corie Hou, Hawaii, 71-69--140; Ulrika van Niekerk, Texas Tech, 74-66--140; 7. (tie) Taylor Sieberg, Fresno State, 70-71--141; Lisa Maunu, Notre Dame, 71-70--141; 9. (tie) Kasey Claussen, Colorado State, 68-74--142; Alice Kim, Cal Davis, 75-67--142.

Other CU scores -- 16. Dominique Pytlewski 68-77--145; 19. Emily Talley 73-73--146; 29. Stephanie Simich 77-72--149; 53. Christine Kim* 77-76--153; 61. Cierra Ko* 75-79--154; 85. Julie Kim 81-76--157.

* -- Competing only as individual