Women's golf leading Stonebridge Invitational
Michael Nienaber
4/13/2009 10:42:06 PM
ROME, Ga. - Playing in blustry and rain-soaked conditions, Birmingham Southern shot a 312 to hold the first-round lead at the Women's Stonebridge Invitational on Monday. The two-day, 36-hole tournament is hosted by Berry College on the 5,839-yard, par-72 course at Stonebridge Golf Club.
The Panthers hold a two stroke lead over tournament hosts Berry and also Savannah College of Art & Design. Both schools shot 315 in the opening round. Berry is ranked No. 7 in the NAIA, while SCAD is tied for No. 13 in the latest poll.
The low score of the day was 73, posted by both Rachel Ingram from Lee and Esther Gandarias from Shorter. Trevecca Nazarene's Ashley Birdwell shot a school low-round of 75 and is third overall. Three players: Julie Donnestad (Lee), Ashley Lovell (Birmingham Southern) and Katina Ruest (SCAD) are tied for fourth place with scores of 76.
Lovell is leading the way for Birmingham Southern, which has three players in the top-10 after round-one. Jordan Hardy and Kelley Burgess both shot 77 to finish tied for seventh for the Panthers on the day. All four BSC players carded scores in the top-20.
Weather-permitting, the teams will tee off for tomorrow's second round. The team's will start off of both No. 1 and No. 10 tees between 8 and 10 a.m.