Kvarnstrom, Western Carolina Lead at Mimosa Hills Intercollegiate
Swedish freshman leads the field in a uniquely scored tournament
Morganton, N.C. - Paced by true freshman Sofie Kvarnstrom with a one-over par, 73, on Monday, the Western Carolina women's golf team leads archrival Appalachian State by seven strokes after the first of two rounds of the Mimosa Hills Intercollegiate being contested at the par-72, 5,810-yard Mimosa Hills Country Club.
Kvarnstrom leads a three-way tie for the runner-up spot between Presbyterian's Kasay Holbrook and Kalie Goodman, with Brittany Zachrich from Appalachian State all a stroke in arrears after all shooting opening rounds of two-over, 74. All told, there are 10 golfers within
The final 18 holes will be played on Tuesday with a shotgun start beginning at 9:30 am.
WCU leads the seven-team field in a unique format with six players comprising a team with five golfers making up the overall scoring - a format that is more commonly used in men's golf tournament play. Traditional women's collegiate golf tournaments are played with five-member squads with the best four scores of each round combined to comprise the team's score.
The Catamount scoring five combined for a 381 on Monday, with the Mountaineers in second place at 388. Fellow Southern Conference foe, Wofford, is in third at 394 followed by Presbyterian (398) and Charleston Southern (400) rounding out the top five teams.
Freshman Katy Kile gives WCU two golfers in the top five individuals at the midway point with a three-over par, 76, on Monday. Senior Rachel Nelson and freshman teammate Maria Kjelldorff posted rounds of five-over, 77, on Monday to stand in a three-way tie for 11th overall while senior Blaire Minter is one-stroke back - and five strokes off the pace - at 78. Rounding out WCU's side is junior Michelle Bello in a tie for 25th at 85.
Playing as an individual, WCU senior Christina Amoriello is tied for 41st after shooting 88.
The final round of the final tune-up event prior to the SoCon Championship, April 15-17, is scheduled for Tuesday morning.
Women's Golf Stands Second at Mimosa Hills
MORGANTON, N.C. - Appalachian State University women's golf posted a five-player 388 (+28) on Monday to rank seven strokes behind leader Western Carolina at the Mimosa Hills Intercollegiate. The Mountaineers return to the course on Tuesday morning for the final round of the 36-hole event.
Senior Brittany Zachrich knocked in birdies on the fourth and sixth holes and added 12 pars to finish the day with a 74 (+2). The round marked a new career low, with her previous best round set at 77 last month. She stands in second place, just one stroke off the lead.
Freshman Elena Thomas posted a solid round with birdies on the third and fourth holes to accompany 11 pars for an overall 76 (+4) halfway through the event to place fifth. The 76 matches her season-best, originally set at the Great Smokies Intercollegiate in the fall.
Junior Rumbidzai Masamvu matched her with 13 pars and a pair of birdies (on the fourth and 16th holes) to tally a 76 (+4) of her own in fifth place.
Mimi Burke carded birdies on the fourth and 12th holes to accompany eight pars for an 80 (+8). The junior is tied for 19th place.
Lauren Smith fired an 82 (+10), including a birdie on the eighth hole and nine pars on the afternoon to stand tied for 25th.
Samantha Bonham posted a 91 (+19) with five pars on the 6,010-yard course. The senior ranks 43rd.
Competing as an individual, Samantha Patton finished with a birdie (second hole) and nine pars to notch a career-best 80 (+8) and rank 19th as well.
WCU's Sofie Kvarnstrom notched the low round of the day in the field of 44 golfers to help her team to an early lead.
ASU owns a six-stroke advantage over SoCon rival Wofford, and ranks 10 strokes ahead of fourth-place Presbyterian College.
Tuesday's round begins at 9:30 a.m. with a shotgun start.
Thompson Leads Terriers on Day One of Mimosa Hills Intercollegiate
MORGANTON, N.C. - The Wofford women's golf team sits in third place at the Mimosa Hills Intercollegiate at the par-70 6,010-yard Mimosa Hills Golf Course after the opening round Monday.
Wofford shot a team score of 394 after the first round. The tournament features a unique play six score five players compared to most tournament's play five score four format.
Western Carolina leads the field with a score of 387, while host App State follows with a 388.
Elizabeth Thompson leads the Terriers with a tying a career 18-hole low with a 76. Alex Hendricks followed with a 77, while Anne Marie Covar carded a 78. Lauren Dunbar scored an 81, while Sarah Hurt and Tarah Taylor entered the clubhouse with scores of 82 and 86 respectively.
The tournament will continue Tuesday morning over the Donald Ross-designed course.