Samford sixth at USA Women’s Invitational
MOBILE, Ala. – Samford women’s golfer Sydney Needham carded a two-round tally of 151 (77-74) on Monday and currently sits tied for third place at the 13th Annual USA Women’s Invitational being hosted by the University of South Alabama at the par-72, 6,071-yard Azalea City Golf Club. As a team, Samford concluded Monday’s play in sixth place with a 36-hole score of 635 (323-312).
The 11-team field battled through cold and windy conditions Monday and completed the first 36 holes of the tournament by early evening. On Tuesday, the 2015 USA Invitational will resume with the final 18 holes of competition with a shotgun start at 8:15 a.m. (CST).
The field for this week’s tournament consists of the following teams: Samford, host school South Alabama, Alabama State, UALR, Louisiana-Monroe, McNeese State, Memphis, Southern Miss, Tennessee Tech, UAB and Western Kentucky.
Needham opened Monday’s play with a first-round total of 77. She then fired a second-round score of 2-over-par 74 to move into a three-way tie for third place along with Western Kentucky’s Georgina Blackman and Memphis’ Michaela Fletcher.
Needham will enter Tuesday’s final round of competition just five strokes behind current leader Stina Resen of Arkansas-Little Rock, who blistered the course Monday with a 2-over-par 146 (75-71). Memphis’ Leighann Cabush will head into the third round of play in sole possession of second place at 148 (74-74).
The Bulldogs struggled in the opening round of action but rebounded nicely with a solid second-round score of 312, which ranked fifth out of the 11 teams of the field.
Samford heads into Tuesday’s final round of play just four strokes out of fourth place and 18 strokes behind second-place Arkansas-Little Rock. Defending champion Memphis fired a two-round tally of 608 on Monday and leads UALR by nine strokes.
Individually, Needham is pacing Samford with a day-one mark of 151, while senior Emily Stallings follows at 159 (83-76) and Bailey Gray owns a 161 (82-79).
Rounding out the Bulldogs’ scoring Monday were Kate Collom (81-85 = 166) and Haley Harrington (84-83=167). True freshman Haley Wagner competed as an individual and posted a two-round score of 168 (85-83).
Mercer 10th at Juli Inkster Spartan Invite
SAN JOSE, Calif. – The Mercer women's golf team stands in 10th place after Monday's opening 36 holes of the Juli Inkster Spartan Invite, hosted by San Jose State at the Almaden Golf and Country Club.
Mercer posted a 330 in the opening round and a 328 in the second round to finish 26 strokes behind Nevada for ninth place. Fresno State leads the field at 597, while San Jose State (609) is second, Boise State (616) is third, Brigham Young (619) is fourth and Santa Clara (620) is fifth.
Mercer freshman Jaelyn Tindal and sophomore Marin Hanna are tied for 40th place with day-one totals of 163. Tindal opened with an 81 and shot 82 in the second round, while Hanna posted an 84 in the first round and improved upon that total by five strokes in the second round.
Freshman Hannah Mae Deems posted back-to-back 84s, and senior Sarah Louie Brown carded an 85 and an 83. Both are tied for 50th individually. Senior Meredith Owen is 52nd after shooting 81-89.
Tuesday's final round is slated for an 8:30 a.m. start.