HPU Women’s Golf Sits In Third At The Pinehurst Challenge

PINEHURST, N.C. – The High Point University women’s golf team sits in third out of 14 teams at the Pinehurst Challenge after shooting a combined 310 in the first round on Saturday in Pinehurst, N.C. Junior Grier Bennett and freshman Sarah Bae each shot a 75 to lead the Panthers.

“Today was not our best performance,” head coach Vici Pate Flesher said. “We entered the day well prepared but we did not apply what we worked on. Grier and Sarah both did a good job negotiating the course today. Everyone wants to better tomorrow and I am really looking forward to a more positive showing.”

Bennett and Bae both shot three-over for the day and are tied for 16th after the first round. Freshman Danielle Fuss carded a 79 for the round and is tied for 35th while sophomore Casey Ward is tied for 46th with a first-round score of 81. Sophomore Tan Cheeranont struggled on the day and is currently tied for 55th with an opening-round 83.

The College of Charleston leads the field with a 294 at the end of the first day. The Cougars hold a nine-stroke lead over Jacksonville State, which sits in second with a score of 303. Gardner-Webb (312) and Boston University (313) round out the top five. Two teams, Siena and Bucknell, were still out on the course when the round was stopped due to darkness. Both will complete their rounds tomorrow morning.

Morgan Webber from the College of Charleston leads the individual medal race after shooting a thre-under 69 in the first round. Webber leads teammate Laura Fuenfstueck by one stroke and Jacksonville State’s Maya Parsons by three strokes.

The Panthers will return to Pinehurst #1 at the Pinehurst Resort on Sunday, March 16 for the second and final day of the Pinehurst Challenge. The team is scheduled to play two rounds beginning with a shotgun start at 8 a.m.