Whittaker Leads Cougars to First at Palmetto
KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. - Leigh Whittaker (Baden-Baden, Germany) fired a career-low 67 in the first and second round to lead the College of Charleston women's golf team to first after 36 holes of the Palmetto Intercollegiate being held Oct. 25-26 at Oak Point Golf Course on Kiawah Island, S.C. Kennesaw State, which fired a tournament-record tying 282 in the first round, is second just two strokes behind the Cougars who have a 36-hole total of 578.
The Cougars fired a 287 in the first round, which was a season-low and tied for the second-lowest round ever. Whittaker's 67 tied the College of Charleston school record for lowest round.
"I was extremely proud of the first round, but was even prouder of the second round," said head coach Jamie Futrell." "It's tough to come back from a low round and be able to duplicate it and we were able to do that today."
Whittaker birdied the third and fourth holes before making par on five and six. After a bogey on seven, a birdie on eight and a par on nine, she turned with a two-under par 34. The back nine was even better for Whittaker after she posted three birdies, including on holes 17 and 18. The second round saw her birdie holes three, 12, 14, 17 and 18 en route to her second 67 of the day.
"Congratulations to Leigh. She tied the school record for lowest round in school history, and what does she do but go back and do it again in the second. I am very proud of her."
Ainhoa Nogales (Pozuelo de Alracon, Spain) did almost as well in the first round, with four birdies and 1 pars. She followed it up with a solid 73 in the second, posting on one bogey. Nogales sits tied for fourth with her 143.
Kathy Boehm (Poing, Germany) is tied for 34th with a 151 and tied for 52nd is Anna Martin (Easley, S.C.) with a 155. Vanessa Koechli (Greer, S.C.) is tied for 54th with a 156 to round out the Cougar starting five.
Kathryn Miranda (Lexington, S.C.) competed as an individual, along with Walker McLear (Durham, N.C.), and is tied for 63rd with a 159. McLear is 90th with a 175.
"While it was a great day, we need to finish the deal tomorrow. There is a lot of competition around us going into tomorrow."
The third and final round is a shotgun format and will tee off at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.
Team Results
1 - College of Charleston, 287-291=578
2 - Kennesaw St., 282-298=580
3 - Coastal Carolina, 295-287=582
4 - Campbell, 299-284=583
t5 - Kansas, 296-296=592
t5 - East Tennessee State, 294-298=592
t5 - Morehead State, 293-299=592
8 - Jacksonville St., 297-296=593
9 - Western Carolina, 291-307=598
10 - Elon, 303-304=607
11 - Wichita State, 310-300=610
12 - Miami, 302-309=611
13 - Charleston Southern, 307-308=615
14 - Richmond, 311-307=618
15 - Illinois State, 307-312=619
16 - Eastern Kentucky, 319-319=638
17 - High Point, 327-319=646
18 - The Citadel, 327-330=657
College of Charleston Results
1 - Leigh Whittaker, 67-67=134
t4 - Ainhoa Nogales, 70-73=143
t34 - Kathy Boehm, 76-75=151
t52 - Anna Martin, 74-81=155
t54 - Vanessa Koechli, 80-76=156
t63 - Kathryn Miranda, 81-78=159
90 - Walker McLear, 87-88=175
Elon Women's Golf Sits 10th After First Day of Palmetto Intercollegiate
KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. -- Both Tara McFadden and Lauren Lebak sit among the top-30 golfers in the 92-participant field of the Palmetto Intercollegiate after two rounds on Monday. Their performances helped the Elon Phoenix (303-304--607) to 10th place on the leaderboard with a round to play.
McFadden carded rounds of 75 and 74 for a two-round score of 149 to sit in a tie for 27th following her rounds on Monday. Lebak's two rounds of 75 have her in a tie for 29th with a total of 150.
Three strokes behind is Elon's Virginia Mayer who posted a first-day total of 153 (75-78). Meghan Green's 160 (83-77) has her tied for 67th while Lindsey Thomka's score of 162 (78-84) is tied for 72nd.
College of Charleston's Leigh Whittaker notched two rounds of 67 for an eight-under 134 total to pace the field. She leads Campbell's Michelle Koh (73-66--139) and Jacksonville State's Lucia Fernandez (70-69--139) by five strokes with a round to play.
Host and league rival CofC (287-291--578) leads second-place Kennesaw State (282-298--580) by two strokes after Monday's play. Coastal Carolina (295-287--582) holds the third spot on the leaderboard while Campbell (299-284--583) is fourth. Three teams are tied for fifth - Kansas (296-296--592), East Tennessee State (294-298--592) and Morehead State (293-299--592).
Two other Southern Conference foes are among the 18-team field. Western Carolina (291-307--598) sits ninth while The Citadel (327-330--657) is 18th.
The final round will be played on Tuesday.