Oct. 26, 2007

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. --- The Samford women's golf team sits in last place after round one of the Ann Rhoads Intercollegiate hosted by the University of Alabama. The Bulldogs are competing with nine of the top 40 teams in the country in the three-day event.

The Samford women shot 332 as a whole Friday, which puts them 37 strokes behind the leader and in 18th place. Sara Hunt led her team in the first round, shooting nine over par at 80, landing her in a tie at 65th place. Kellie O'Connell and Katelyn Stanier are tied at 90th with a first round total of 83 while Maria Troche and Courtney Warr are tied at 94th, both shooting 86.

Only one stroke separates each team in the top five at this point. The University of Arkansas, who is ranked sixth nationally, leads the field of teams shooting 295 on the day. Louisville (No. 36) follows just two strokes behind in second while Notre Dame (No. 19) rounds out the top three at third shooting 298. Furman comes in at fourth while South Carolina (No. 35) takes the fifth place spot.

No. 7 Auburn sits in sixth place, Central Florida is seventh and No. 26 LSU is in eighth. The University of Mississippi takes ninth place, No. 33 Texas and No. 5 Florida share the tenth spot while Northwestern comes in at 12th. No. 43 Kentucky takes 13th, Mississippi State is 14th, No. 15 Alabama is 15th, Kansas is 16th, No. 37 Florida State is 17th with Samford following at 18th.

Round two of the UA Ann Rhoads Intercollegiate will begin at 8 a.m. Saturday morning at the North River Golf Course.