Furman leads Yale Intercollegiate

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Furman posted a 6-over-par 290 to take the opening-round lead Friday at the Yale Intercollegiate at the par-71, 6,008-yard The Course at Yale.

The Paladins placed three players among the top nine after one day of play, including sophomore Alice Chen (-2), who carded five birdies to place third with a 2-under 69, just one shot behind Vanderbilt’s Cindy Ha (-3) and Lauren Stephenson (-3) of Clemson, who each fired an opening-round 68 to take the lead.

Freshman Haylee Harford (-1) scored consecutive birdies on Nos. 10 and 11 and again on Nos. 16 and 17 to conclude the round tied for fourth with a first-round 70, while sophomore Jacqueline Bendrick (+2) is tied for ninth after carding a 73 with four birdies, including back-to-back birdies on Nos. 14 and 15. 

Sophomore Taylor Totland (+7) birdied No. 17 to tie for 41st with a 78, while senior Valentina Romero (+8) is tied for 48th after carding a 79 on Friday. Sophomore Reona Hirai (+9), who is playing as an individual, scored an 80 with birdies on No. 2 and No. 15 to tie for 56th after one round of competition.

The Paladins hold a three-stroke lead over Clemson (+9), while Michigan (+10) is one shot behind the Tigers in third. Vanderbilt (+12) is fourth, and Harvard (+16) and host Yale (+16) are tied for fifth. 

Second-round play of the 54-hole tournament begins Saturday at 9:30 a.m., and the tournament will conclude on Sunday. The Paladins will tee off of No. 1 at 11 a.m. on Saturday.