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Lady Hawks in fifth in midst of weather-shortened first round
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. -- The Shorter University women's golf team stands in fifth place overall after trudging through a weather-shortened first round at the 2011 NAIA Women's Golf National Championships Tuesday at Link Hills Country Club.
Rain forced a four-hour delay and only half of the teams were able to complete 18 holes.
Shorter was one of those teams. The top-ranked Lady Hawks, who were part of the tournament's first group to tee off alongside Northwood University (Fla.) and Lindenwood University (Mo.), posted a team total of 326 and currently sit seven shots back of first round leader California Baptist (319).
Of the 12 teams that were able to finish their first round, British Columbia's is two shots back after firing an opening round 321. Northwood (Fla.) is third at 323 and Lubbock Christian (Texas) is fourth at 325.
The Lady Hawks had to battle difficult weather conditions from start to finish and still managed to turn in very respectable rounds given the circumstances.
Shorter All-America sophomore and 2011 Southern States Athletic Conference Player of the Year Greta Lange birdied two of her first three holes and carded a birdie on No. 10 en route to a 5-over 79 on the par-73 course. Lange ended her day in a tie for 22nd, although only eight competitors ahead of her on the leaderboard have played a full 18 holes.
Lisa Persson, the SSAC medalist and Freshman of the Year, shot 7-over (80) in the first round and junior Petra Muller finished round one at 9-over.
Freshman Maria Bengtsson, who spent most of Monday in the hospital with an illness, posted a 13-over 86 in the near impossible conditions.
British Columbia's Kylie Barros stis atop the individual leaderboard after her even-par 73. Melanie Roux of Northwood (Fla.) completed her opening 18 holes and is two strokes back at +2.
NAIA officials announced a revised Wednesday schedule to accommodate those teams that have yet to complete their first round.
First round play resumes this morning at 8 a.m. ET and the second round will begin at approximately 10:05 a.m. ET. The Lady Hawks will be one of the last teams to tee off in second round action.
