--- Samford’s Katelyn Stanier sits atop the leaderboard with a 1-under 71 ---

ONEONTA, Ala. --- Despite cold and rainy conditions at Limestone Springs Golf Course on Monday, the Samford women’s golf team fired a tournament-best score of 305 to earn first place in the 2009 Samford Intercollegiate. The Bulldogs were paced by junior Katelyn Stanier, who carded a 1-under 71 to lead the individual standings.

Stanier, Samford’s highly decorated native of Newnan, Ga., is in front of Jacksonville State’s Lucia Fernandez by one stroke, while the Bulldogs lead over the Jacksonville State Gamecocks stands at two following the opening 18 holes of the tournament.

South Alabama currently sits in third place with a total team score of 312.

The competitors were originally scheduled to play 36 holes Monday, but the cold and rainy weather forced the event to be limited to 18 holes. On Tuesday, the 2009 Samford Intercollegiate will be completed with the final 18 holes of the two-day tournament.

The Bulldogs finished the opening day of competition with three players in the top-10.

Samford’s Stanier leads the tournament with an 18-hole best score of 71, while junior Heather Arnold follows in a tie for sixth place and senior Maria Troche is tied for ninth. Arnold and Troche fired round one scores of 76 and 77, respectively.

Rounding out Samford’s top performers Monday were senior Kellie O’Connell (42-38?80), Sara Hunt (39-42?81) and Sarah Butts (44-41?85).

The Samford women’s golf team will conclude play in the 2009 Samford Intercollegiate on Tuesday at 9 a.m., as the Bulldogs begin their final round of competition in the 36-hole event being held at Limestone Springs Golf Course in Oneonta, Ala.