HPU Women’s Golf Moves To Second At The Edwin Watts Classic

KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. – The High Point University women’s golf team shot a combined 299 in the second round of the Edwin Watts Classic in Kiawah Island, S.C., on Monday to move into second place out of 36 teams with a two-day score of 599. The Panthers’ score of 299 tied for the lowest round of the day.

“I was very happy with the way the girls managed their game today,” head coach Vici Pate Flesher said. “Casey and Sarah both played very steady, Tan did a great job of minimizing damage and Grier did a wonderful job of coming back with a few birdies. I am happy we are where we are. We just need to keep getting a stroke better every round and that will get us where we want to go.”

Sophomore Casey Ward shot a one-over 73 for the day and is tied for third after two rounds with a 36-hole score of 145 (72-73). Ward posted three birdies in the round for the second day in a row. Junior Grier Bennett bounced back from a difficult front nine with three birdies in her last nine holes to finish with a two-over 74 for the round. Bennett is tied for 12th after two rounds with a total score of 149 (75-74).

Sophomore Tan Cheeranont carded a 77 on the day and is tied for 28th with a two-round score of 152 (75-77), one-stroke ahead of freshman Sarah Bae who shot a 75 on Tuesday and is tied for 38th with a score of 153 (78-75). Freshman Danielle Fuss turned in a score of 84 in the second round and is tied for 114th with a two-round total of 163 (79-84). Senior Margaret Suchan shot a two-over 74 on the day while competing as an individual and is tied for 66th with a two-day score of 156 (82-74).

HPU’s score of 299 for the round marks the fifth time in the 2013-14 season that The Panthers have recorded a team score below 300 in a round. High Point had recorded just two sub-300 round as a team prior to the season.

Kent State leads the team standings after two rounds with a combined score of 594. Jacksonville State sits just behind High Point in third place with a combined score of 601. St. John’s sits in fourth with a score of 602 and Penn State is in fifth with a score of 603.

UNC Greensboro’s Sammie Buchanan shot and even-par 72 in the second round and leads the race for the individual medal with a 36-hole score of 142. Anna Kim of St. John’s is in second, two-strokes back of Buchanan with a two-day score of 144. Ward and Boston College’s Katia Joo are tied for third, three-strokes back of the leader.

By finishing among the top 19 teams in the 36-team tournament, High Point has qualified for Tuesday’s Championship Flight and will play the final round of the Edwin Watts Classic on the Cougar Point golf course. The round will begin with a shotgun start at 9:30 a.m.