Fuss Leads HPU Women’s Golf On Day One At Pinehurst

• Junior Danielle Fuss leads HPU with a two-round total of 145 to sit t-24th (74-71)
• Sophomore Cayla Smith posted a career-low round (72) on her second 18 of the day
• The Panthers wrap up the tournament Tuesday with final round action beginning at 8:30 a.m.

PINEHURST, N.C. – Junior Danielle Fuss fired a one-under par 71 in second round action to lead the High Point University women’s golf team on day one at the Pinehurst Challenge.

Playing the Pinehurst No. 1 course, Fuss improved upon her round one score by three strokes to move up 17 spots and sit t-24th (74-71-145, +1) after 36 holes. The Rochester, N.Y., native made a field-best two eagles on the day and ranked t-6th amongst the 104-player field in par-3 scoring (-1).

Fuss’ strong play helped the Panthers shoot a 36-hole total of 603 (305-298), good for 16th place in a strong field. East Carolina leads the tournament (570), followed by Iowa (573) and Chattanooga (575).

“If you were to tell me our team would shoot 305 and 298 and we’d be in 16th, I would’ve told you that you were crazy. But this is a strong field and scores are low,” head coach Vici Pate Flesher said. “We did not play badly. In fact, we played very well. The beginning of the first round is what really hurt us. We had another slow start. We need to come out better tomorrow and open with pars instead of bogeys.”

Sophomore Cayla Smith carded a career-low 72 in the second round and finished the day t-58th with a 36-hole total of 150 (78-72, +6). Smith’s total on her second 18 improved her standing by 25 spots.

Senior Tan Cheeranont fired scores of 76 and 75 and currently stands t-66th (151, +7).

Rounding out the HPU contingent, freshman Jenny Zhang is in a tie for 87th place after posting totals of 77 and 80 (157), while fellow freshman Landrie Grace is t-100th with a 36-hole score of 163 (+19).

“I’m excited about Cayla’s career low and Danielle posted another round under par,” Pate Flesher said. “She’s playing really solid right now. And Jenny also had a good performance today. I’m looking forward to putting together a good, low round tomorrow and seeing where that puts us in the standings.”

The Panthers wrap up the Pinehurst Challenge Tuesday with final round action set to begin at 8:30 a.m.