Furman up to fourth at Lady Paladin Invitational
GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Furman women’s golf team carded a tournament-best 282 on Monday to climb into fourth place after two rounds at the 44th Lady Paladin Invitational at the par-72, 6,313-yard Furman University Golf Course.
Junior Taylor Totland and sophomore Alice Chen posted rounds of 68 and 69, respectively, to power the Paladins to a 6-under 282. Totland (-1) birdied three holes on the back nine and played her final 12 holes at 5-under to move into a tie for third place through 36 holes. Chen (+1), who shot a 4-over 76 on Sunday, also birdied five of her final 12 holes to rebound on day two of the tournament. She climbed into a tie for ninth place.
Freshman Haylee Harford (+3) fired a 33 on the front nine en route to a 1-under 71, while senior Valentina Romero (+6) and freshman Annika Bovender (+13) shot 74 and 79, respectively, on Monday.
Jacqueline Bendrick (+5), playing as an individual, posted an even-par 72 to move up to 27th place. Furman individual Macy McRaney (+10) shot a second round 74, while Reona Hirai (+11) carded a 78.
Furman’s 282 marks the second-best round in the history of both the Lady Paladin Invitational and the Paladin women’s golf program. Furman was one shot shy of tying the tournament record of 281, set by Wisconsin in 2013, and one shot short of the program’s best round, recorded in the final round of last year’s Seminole Match-Up.
Wake Forest’s Sierra Sims shot a 3-under 69 to vault the Demon Deacons (+4) into a one-stroke lead over second place Missouri (+5) after both schools shot an even-par 288 on Monday.
Clemson’s Alice Hewson (-4) maintained the tournament’s individual lead by following her opening round 67 with a 1-over 73 on Monday.
The teams at this year’s tournament are again participating in Birdies for Water to benefit Golf Fore Africa, a 501 (c)(3) founded in 2006 by Furman golf alumna and LPGA Hall of Famer Betsy King. To date GFA has raised over 2.5 million dollars to fund projects in Rwanda, Lesotho, Kenya, Mali, Niger, and Zambia. Currently Golf Fore Africa is raising two million dollars to bring clean water, improved sanitation, and hygiene education to over 100 villages in rural Zambia.
Each team at the tournament has been invited to raise money by securing flat donations and pledges for each birdie their team members record during the tournament, with a goal of raising $30,000. Last year, teams at the Lady Paladin Invitational raised almost $30,000, with the Furman team raising over $10,000, eclipsing the tournament goal of $15,000, the amount needed to bring clean water, improved sanitation, and hygiene education to one village.
To sponsor the Furman women’s golf team in this endeavor, go to http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/furman-paladins/lady-paladin-invitationals-birdies-for-water-event or e-mail Hester at Kelley.Hester@Furman.edu.
Final round play is set to begin with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. on Tuesday.
ETSU ninth at Lady Paladin Invitational
GREENVILLE, S.C. – ETSU women’s golf fell to ninth place at the 2015 Lady Paladin after the second round at the Furman University Golf Course. The Bucs matched their score from the first round with a 303.
The Bucs had two opponents jump them on day two of the tournament. The Kennesaw State Owls shot a 292 and jumped ETSU by five shots overall.
Rachel Pollock led the Bucs after day two. She shot just two strokes over par, which was her best score so far this season. Hee Ying Loy is leading the team in overall score with 149 strokes. Loy finished her second round by carding a 75 and is tied for 27th in the tournament. Dominika Czudkova and Linda Dobele are tied for third place on ETSU with 154 strokes in the first two days.
The Bucs will wrap up the final round at the Lady Paladin on Tuesday. They are set to tee off at 9 a.m. and are paired with University of North Carolina and Kennesaw State University.
Samford 15th, Buchanan third at Lady Paladin Invite
GREENVILLE, S.C. – Samford freshman golfer Anna Buchanan is tied for third after Monday's second round of the Lady Paladin Invitational, hosted by Furman University. The Bulldogs are 15th overall.
Buchanan, an Athens, Ga., native, carded a 1-under-par 71 in Monday's second round. In Sunday's opening round, she shot an even-par 72. After two rounds, she stands at 1-under-par 143.
The tournament will conclude with a final round Tuesday morning. The round is scheduled to begin with a shotgun start at 8 a.m. (CDT).
Chattanooga ninth at Mercedes-Benz Championships
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Chattanooga Mocs women’s golf team opened its season Monday shooting 589 over 36 holes at the Mercedes-Benz Championships at Cherokee Country Club. The Mocs tallied 295 in the morning before completing the day with a 294.
Chattanooga is ninth, four shots ahead of Minnesota (593) in 10th and eight clear of Maryland (597) in 11th. Illinois is three strokes ahead in eighth.
Emily McLennan led the way, tying for 13th at 1-over 143. She started with a 72 and closed with a level-par 71. Her 11 birdies led the field. McLennan bounced back from a slow start, standing +4 through six before playing -3 the rest of the way.
Cristina Perez had the low round in the morning with an even-par 71. She birdied three of four holes to get back to even. She’s tied for 20th at +4 after a 75 in round two.
Megan Woods and Sarah Dolmovich shot matching 76s in the opening 18. Woods came back with a 73 to sit at 7-over 149. Dolmovich is two behind her at 151. Monica San Juan shot 157 in her first two collegiate rounds.
Kent State’s Taylor Kim is the individual leader at -5. Kim shot 69-67 and is one ahead of India Clyburn (NC State) and Samantha Wagner (Florida) in second. Kim’s play led the Golden Flashes to the 36-hole lead at 563 (-5). Iowa State is second at 564.
The final round is an 8:30 a.m., shotgun start. The Mocs are paired with Illinois and UNLV with the respective fives opening on holes 7-10.