SPARTANBURG, S.C. — The High Point University women’s golf team continued its strong fall and leads the Terrier Intercollegiate after the first day at the Country Club of Spartanburg (Par 72 – 6,012 yards) Monday (Oct. 23) in Spartanburg, S.C.
The Panthers shot 292 on a wet and windy first day and lead second place Presbyterian by 11 strokes (303). Appalachian State and Georgia Southern are tied for third at 305, while Gardner-Webb is fifth at 308. The Panthers won the Winthrop Intercollegiate in Rock Hill, S.C., on Sunday.
“It was another great day for us today,” HPU head coach Alexis Bennett said. “We got off to a sluggish start, but really got it going on the back nine with a combined 13 birdies. Birdies and under-par rounds are becoming the norm, which definitely makes it easier to post some good team scores. We are finally playing to our potential this week and are taking advantage of our length off the tee, especially on the par 5s.
“We are really excited to have an opportunity to get back-to-back wins; that’s just not something that happens often in golf. With the rain that’s coming through, the course is going to be soft and the greens will be receptive, so it’ll take our best to finish it off.”
Senior Cayla Smith fired off five birdies and an eagle en route to a 3-under 69, her second under-par round out of her last three. She leads the field by two strokes, while sophomore Tonrak Tasaso is one of three tied for second with a 1-under 71. Tasaso struggled on the front nine at 2-over, but five birdies and a 3-under back nine pushed her up the leaderboard.
Sophomore Samantha Vodry sits in a tie for ninth with a 3-over 75, while freshmen Anna Holmberg and Caitie Gelhausen are tied for 17th after both shooting 5-over 77.
The second and final round will tee off at 10 a.m. with a shotgun start.