Furman in second at Golfweek Program Challenge

PAWLEYS ISLAND, S.C. – The Furman women’s golf team is in second place, while junior Valentina Romero (E) is tied for second place after shooting an even 71 to lead the Paladins (+9) Sunday in the opening day of the 2014-15 season at the Golfweek Program Challenge at the par-71, 6,123-yard Caledonia Golf & Fish Club.

Romero birdied No. 4 then went on to birdie four out of six holes from No. 9 to No. 14, including back-to-back birdies on 13 and 14 to finish the day at par. The Cali, Colombia, native is one stroke back of leader Nadine White (-1) of Campbell, who fired a 70 in Sunday’s opening round.

Campbell (+5) holds a four-stroke lead over the Paladins after shooting a 5-over 289 on Sunday. Old Dominion (+13) is in third place, four strokes behind Furman, while Garner-Webb (+15) is in fourth place in the women’s competition.

Paladin sophomore Taylor Totland (+2) birdied No. 14, a par-4, to card a 73 and tie for eighth place following Sunday’s opening round, while freshman Alice Chen (+3) claimed three birdies in her first collegiate round to tie for 13th with a 74. Senior Laura DeMarco (+4) enters Monday’s round tied for 17th after scoring birdies on No. 3, No. 8, and No. 11, to finish the round at 75, and rookie Jacqueline Bendrick (+5) birdied the par-4 No. 13 to open her collegiate career tied for 24th with a 76.

Second-round play of the 54-hole tournament, which includes a women’s stroke play tournament at Caledonia Golf & Fish Club and a men’s competition at True Blue Plantation, begins Monday at 7:30 a.m., and the tournament will conclude Tuesday with a 7:30 a.m. start.