SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The High Point University women’s golf team opened the 2012-13 season by shooting a combined 309 in the opening round of the Terrier Intercollegiate to finish Monday in a tie for sixth place in Spartanburg, S.C. Sophomore Grier Bennett had the low round of the day with a two-over 74.
“I am not disappointed with how we played today but I know we can still play better,” head coach Vici Pate Flesher said. “Grier had a very solid round. We left a lot of strokes out there so we decided to work around the green after the round and we feel like we made some good strides there. Everyone on the team knows they can play a little better tomorrow so that is promising.”
Bennett finished the round in a four-way tie for ninth place, six-strokes off the individual lead. Senior Audra McShane and freshman Tan Cheeranont both carded a 77 for the day to finish the round tied for 21st. Freshman Casey Ward finished tied for 42nd with an opening-round score of 81 while junior Margaret Suchan shot an 87 and is currently in 69th.
Fellow Big South member Gardner-Webb finished the first round atop the team standings with a combined score of 294. The Runnin’ Bulldogs hold a two-stroke lead over UNC Wilmington at the end of the day. UNC Pembroke (296), Mercer (301) and Elon (308) round out the top five.
GWU’s Mary K. Donovan turned in the low individual score of the day with a four-under 68. She leads by two strokes over Lori Beth Adams of UNC Wilmington who carded a two-under 70. Gardner-Webb’s Meghan Allum, UNC Wilmington’s Laverry Kumar and USC Upstate’s Taylor Barnes all shot matching scores of 72 to tie for third after the opening round.
The Terrier Intercollegiate will resume at the Country Club of Spartanburg on Tuesday, Sept. 11, with a shotgun start at 9:30 a.m.