April 17, 2011

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. - The Samford University women's golf team carded an opening round score of 323 Sunday on the opening day of competition in the 2011 SoCon Championship being held at the immaculate Moss Creek Golf Club's North Course in Hilton Head Island, S.C. Samford concluded the opening round of play tied for sixth place with Western Carolina.

The Bulldogs were paced Sunday by sophomore Anna Heim and junior Sarah Butts. Both Samford competitors finished the first 18 holes of this week's 54-hole tournament with identical scores of 78. Heim and Butts will enter Monday's second round of competition tied for 11th place in the individual standings.

Samford true freshman Alex Jasper followed with a first-round tally of 82, while Natalie Mitchell and Kayla Turner carded scores of 85 and 86, respectively.

Chattanooga placed four golfers in the top six spots, including day one leader Emma de Groot, to claim an eight-stroke lead after the first round at the SoCon Women's Golf Championship.

De Groot shot a consistent 37 on the front and back nine for a round of 74 (+2). After starting her day with two bogies, she recovered with birdies on four and seven before closing out the back nine with a bogie. The Lady Moc senior recorded one birdie and two bogies on the back nine to close out the first day.

As a team, the Lady Mocs shot 303 (+15) with de Groot joined in the top five by teammates Christine Wolf, (T-2nd, 75), Jordan Britt (T-5th, 77) and Marion Duvernay (T-5th, 77).

UNC Greensboro sits at second place with a team score of 311 (+23) while College of Charleston follows closely with a 313 (+25).

Furman finished the first round in fourth place with a 320, one stroke of Elon with 321. Samford and Western Carolina are tied at sixth place (323).

Rounding out the field on day one was Appalachian State (331), Wofford (332) and The Citadel (346).

Appalachian State's Rumbidzai Masamvu and Elon's Martyna Mierzwa both recorded scores of 3-over-par 75 to equal Wolf in a three-way tie for second place.

The 2011 SoCon Tournament will resume Monday at 7 a.m. (CDT) and fans can follow the action live at www.golfstatresults.com.

--- SAMFORD BULLDOGS ---

Round One Results - SoCon Championship