VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Sophomore Esme Hamilton fired a school-record 65 to take the first round lead at the Princess Anne Invitational. Her performance spear-headed the Chattanooga Mocs even-par 280.

The Mocs are third overall. They trail leader Virginia Tech by four and second-place LSU by a mere shot. UCF and College of Charleston are behind Chattanooga, tied for fourth at 6 over.

Hamilton turned in an eagle, four birdies, 12 pars and a single bogey in shooting 65. That tops the previous record by a stroke. Ladies European Tour pro Christine Wolf shot 66 en route to her lone collegiate win, the 2011 JMU Eagle Landing Invitational. Wolf’s 6 under day is still to the top score vs. par.

Maddy McDanel finished at even-par 70. It’s her third par or better card in four tee times at Princess Anne Country Club. She shot 2 under 208 here a year ago and is averaging 69.5 strokes per 18 there.

Rheagan Hall turned in 72, while Kirsty Beckwith had 73. Michaela Kulhankova had the drop with 77.

Hamilton’s 65 was one of 11 scores on the day in the 60s. It’s the first of her career. The Mocs had three all of last year, each coming at PACC. McDanel shot 68 in the first and third rounds, while Monica San Juan had the season’s best card of 67 over the second 18.

LINEUP

3rd of 15: 280 (E)

1) Esme Hamilton: 65 (-5)

T12) Maddy McDanel: 70 (E)

T25) Rheagan Hall: 72 (+2)

T39) Kirsty Beckwith: 73 (+3)

T69) Michaela Kulhankova: 77 (+7)

3 NOTES TO KNOW

• The opening round 280 is the first par or better team score since level-par 288 to open the Web.com Intercollegiate on April 4, 2016. The 280 total is the lowest team 18 since 280 (-8) over the second 18 winning the 2015 Fall Invitational. That ties for second behind the school-record 278 (-10) completing the 2011 JMU Eagle Landing win. 280 is the lowest total over the opening 18 in program history.
• 9 under on the par 5s. The last time the Mocs were better for a tournament than they were today on the long holes was the 2015 Cougar Classic (-14).
• The ladies beat their playing partners from East Carolina and Minnesota by 14 and 22 strokes, respectively.

COURSE

Princess Anne C.C. – Par 70 – 5,816 yards

DATES/TEE TIMES (EDT) – ADMISSION IS FREE

Saturday: Hole No. 1 – Paired with LSU & Virginia Tech – Kulhankova (9:50), Beckwith (10:01), Hall (10:12), McDanel (10:23), Hamilton (10:34).

Sunday: TBA (Click pairings link above for details)

STAT LEADERS

Eagles: 1 – Esme Hamilton (tied for tournament lead)

Birdies: 5 – Maddy McDanel (tied for tournament lead)

Pars: 14 – Rheagan Hall

Fewest Bogeys: 1 – Hamilton 

Fewest Others: 0 – McDanel, Hamilton & Hall

Par 3: -2 – Hamilton 

Par 4: E – Hamilton 

Par 5: -3 – Hamilton & Kirsty Beckwith (tied for tournament lead)