Wofford leads Terrier Intercollegiate
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Led by junior Emiley Pagrabs’ 3-over-par 75, the Wofford women’s golf team is in first place after Monday’s opening round of the fourth annual Terrier Intercollegiate.
It was an all-around effort. Wofford carded a team score of 19-over-par 307 and four Terriers sit in the top 10 of the 51-player field. Eight strokes back is a three-way tie for second that includes Appalachian State, Gardner-Webb and Winthrop (+27).
Pagrabs shot an even-par 35 on the front nine to go with a 3-over 40 on the back nine at The Country Club of Spartanburg. She carded three birdies on the front, including a string of three in four holes at the par-5 fifth, par-4 seventh and par-3 eighth. The Wilmington, North Carolina, native is tied for third, three shots back of leader Jennifer Dilger (E) of Winthrop.
A stroke behind Pagrabs is Terrier freshman Nicole Chin. The rookie from Irmo, S.C., began her day with seven straight pars and came in with a 4-over 76. She is tied for fifth.
Senior Lauren Dunbar and freshman Lela Oakley are tied for seventh at 6-over 78. Oakley recovered from a double bogey start to card 11 pars and a birdie at the par-5 17th. Meanwhile, Dunbar was steady through the front with eight straight pars, before closing with a wild back nine of two birdies, one par, five bogeys and a double bogey.
Sophomore Katy Funk rounds out the Terriers competing in the team event. Funk started out with a 6-over 41 on the front before settling in for just three bogeys and a 3-over 40 on the back. The Spartanburg native is tied for 19th at 9-over-par.
Wofford senior Elizabeth Thompson, junior Maegan Higgins and sophomore Allyson Markiewicz are competing as individuals. Thompson headed the group, carding a 1-over 36 on the front on her way to an 81. The senior birdied the par-5 fifth, as did Markiewicz, who is tied for 26th after a day-one 11-over-par 83. Higgins is in 44th following a 19-over 91.
Tuesday’s second and final round will tee off in a shotgun format at 10 a.m. Wofford, Winthrop and Appalachian State will tee off in the lead groups on holes 1 through 5. Pagrabs, Dilger and App State’s Emily Stinson (+6) are scheduled to tee off the par-5 first.
Samford third at Old Waverly Classic
STARKVILLE, Miss. – The Samford University women's golf team proved to be the talk of the 2014 Old Waverly Bulldog Classic on Monday as the Bulldogs turned in their best performance of the fall with an opening-round tally of 3-over-par 291 at the talent-laden, 13-team competition being held at the par-72, 6,113-yard Old Waverly Golf Club.
With its stellar first-round performance, Samford closed out the day in third place and found itself just one stroke behind second-place USF (290) and six strokes behind first-place Mississippi State (285). Mississippi State, which is hosting this week's three-day competition, entered the tournament as the No. 5-ranked team in the nation.
Individually, the Bulldogs' Bailey Gray blistered the course with a 3-under-par 69 on Monday. Gray's performance moved her into a tie for second place in the standings along with Mississippi State's Ally McDonald and USF's Nicole Autrique.
Gray is just one stroke out of the lead behind Mississippi State's Chieh Jessica Peng. Peng closed out the first round with a 4-under-par 68.
Team-wide, the Bulldogs turned in their best collective effort of the 2014 campaign Monday. Gray's outstanding performance paced the squad, while Sydney Needham also posted a top-10 outing with a first-round tally of even-par 72. Needham will head into Tuesday's competition tied for eighth place.
Three of Samford's five starters were ranked among the tournament's top 15 on Monday. Haley Harrington carded a 1-over-par 73 in the first round and found herself tied for 15th place in the individual standings.
Rounding out Samford's scoring Monday at the 2014 Old Waverly Bulldog Classic were senior Emily Stallings (77) and sophomore Arin Eddy (83).
The field for this week's 54-hole event also includes Cincinnati, Florida International, Houston, Iowa, Memphis, Mercer, Murray State, South Alabama, Southern Miss and Troy.
Samford will enter Tuesday's second round of play three strokes ahead of FIU (294), five strokes ahead of Houston (296) and seven strokes better than sixth-place Memphis (298) and Iowa (298).
Play will resume in the tournament Tuesday at 9 a.m. (CDT) as the second round of action will be held at the Old Waverly Golf Club.
Mercer 12th at Old Waverly Bulldog Classic
STARKVILLE, Miss. – The Mercer women's golf team used 311 strokes in Monday's opening round of the Old Waverly Bulldog Classic to enter the clubhouse 12th on the team leaderboard. Sophomore Katy Harris posted the Bears' low round of the day, carding a 2-over 74.
Mercer is seven strokes ahead of Cincinnati for 13th place while Samford (224), Mississippi (264), South Florida (290), Memphis (233) and FIU (272) comprise the top five.
Harris opened the tournament on a high note with a birdie on the 339-yard par-4 first hole. Harris would later collect birdies at the eighth and 15th holes en route to finishing tied for 26th.
Sophomore Marin Hanna is tied for 29th after shooting 75. Freshman Hannah Mae Deems enters Tuesday's round tied for 54th with a score of 80.
Seniors Sarah Brown and Meredith Owen shot 82 and 83, respectively, and are tied for 65th and 68th.
Mercer resumes action with the second round of the Old Waverly Bulldog Classic on Tuesday.