March 10, 2006
BLYTHEWOOD, S.C. - After one round at the Lady Gamecock Classic, the No. 6-ranked Auburn women's golf team sits in sixth place with a 16-over 304 Friday at the par 72, 5,996-yard University Club. The Tigers, however, are just four strokes out of first place in the three-day tournament.
"We started out strong today and fell off a little on the back nine, but overall, it was a decent day," head coach Kim Evans said. "We will have to pick up the intensity on the last two days if we want to be in the hunt. Teams are pretty tight right now in the standings so tomorrow is very important."
Auburn's score of 16-over is four strokes behind leader Tennessee at 12-over 300. Furman sits in second carding a 13-over 301, Florida State and Virginia are tied for third at 14-over 302 and North Carolina State finished the day in fifth at 15-over 303.
Leading the Tigers individually is senior Maria Martinez in a tie for third, firing a 1-over 73 for the day. Martinez is followed by Nicole Hage in a tie for sixth at 2-over 74, Margaret Shirley tied for 18th at 5-over 77, Abigale Schepperle tied for 43rd at 8-over 81 and Jessica Lovell ended the first round in a tie for 51st at 11-over 83.
Caroline Westrup of Florida State leads the pack at 2-under 70 and Golda Johansson of Tennessee sits in second at even par 72.
Round two action will continue Saturday morning with live stats at www.golfstat.com and daily updates posted online at www.auburntigers.com.