Gray first, Samford second at Samford Intercollegiate
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Samford women’s golfer Bailey Gray carded a 36-hole score of 149 (74-75) on Monday and sits tied for the individual lead in the 10-team, three-round Samford Intercollegiate being held at the Hoover Country Club. Gray will enter Tuesday’s final round of play tied with Ole Miss’ Alison Hovatter and Belmont’s Abbie Gregory atop the leaderboard.
As a team, Samford registered a two-round total of 614 (305-309). The Bulldogs concluded the day in second place and currently sit just four strokes behind tournament leader Ole Miss (308-302=610).
Samford led the competition by three strokes following the opening round of play after turning in a first-round team score of 305. The Bulldogs closed out the day with a solid 309, but Ole Miss rallied with a 302 in the second round to jump into the first-place position.
Heading into Tuesday’s final round, Samford boasts four players ranked in the top 15 and all five members of its starting lineup in the top 22.
Bailey paces her squad with a two-round total of 149 and sits in first place out of 65 competitors. Samford sophomore Sydney Needham followed with a day-one tally of 156 (77-79) and holds the 12th-place position in the event.
The Bulldogs’ Emily Stallings and Haley Harrington are tied for 14th place in the individual standings and own identical 36-hole scores of 157.
True freshman Kate Collom opened Monday’s play with a stellar 4-over-par 76 and finished the first round tied for sixth place in the event. She closed out the second round in 22nd place with a day-one total of 158 (76-82).
While competing as an individual, the Bulldogs’ Haley Wagner posted a two-round score of 166 (81-85).
The 54-hole tournament will conclude Tuesday with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. (CDT). Hoover Country Club is a 6,100-yard, par-72 golf course.
Chattanooga 15th at suspended Briar’s Creek Invitational
JOHNS ISLAND, S.C. – The Chattanooga Mocs women’s golf team planned on a 36-hole day at the Briar’s Creek Invitational at the Golf Club at Briar’s Creek. The weather did not cooperate as a steady rain slowed play and suspended the second 18 with four to six holes to go.
The Mocs tied for 11th in the first round. Their 310 (+22) was matched by host College of Charleston, one behind Coastal Carolina and USF tied for ninth at 309. The duo was in front of Maryland (312), Michigan State (313), Boston College (314) Illinois (316) and Indiana (317).
Agathe Sauzon led the way with a 3-over 75, which was tied for 23rd. Megan Woods and Emily McLennan carded 78s, while Cris Perez posted 79. Isabella Loza had the drop score of 80.
The afternoon was unkind for the Mocs, as they dropped back to 15th. Florida leads at 6-over followed by Texas Tech at +10. The Gators’ Kelly Grassel leads individually at 4-under, two clear of Miami’s Daniela Darquea at -2. Sauzon remained tied for 23rd at 6-over when play was halted.
The teams return to the tee at 8 a.m. Tuesday. They’re scheduled to complete the second 18 before continuing on for the final round.
ETSU 17th at suspended Briar’s Creek Invitational
JOHNS ISLAND, S.C. – Treacherous weather conditions proved to be a challenge for the ETSU women’s golf team as the Buccaneers opened play in the Briar’s Creek Invitational on Monday at the Golf Club at Briar’s Creek.
Posting a solid first-round score and finishing seventh after 18 holes of play, the Bucs faltered in the second round and dropped to 17th on the team leaderboard. Second-round play was suspended with approximately four holes remaining, so Tuesday will begin with the completion of the second round followed by the third and final round.
For the Bucs, all five players carded scores in the 70s during the first round, led by a 2-over-par 74 by junior Vivienne Chin, while sophomore Rachel Pollock posted a 4-over-par 76 in her first circuit around the Briar’s Creek course. Chin is currently tied for 29th on the individual leaderboard, while Pollock is tied for 46th.
As for the rest of the field, No. 29 Florida currently holds first place by four strokes over No. 44 Texas Tech in the team competition. Individually, three players find themselves under par for the tournament, led by Florida’s Kelly Grassel at 4-under. Grassel, the 97th-ranked player in the country, is two strokes ahead of No. 44 Daniela Darquea of Miami and Lauren Mason of Texas Tech.