MUSCLE SHOALS, Ala. - MacKenzie Peyton and Carianne Wright each shot a 4-over par 76 to lead the University of South Alabama women's golf team in the first round of the Sun Belt Conference Championship at the Fighting Joe Golf Course in Muscle Shoals.

South Alabama will come into the second round of the SBC Championship in ninth place with a team score of 315 one stroke ahead of Louisiana-Monroe. Defending league champion Texas State leads the field with a 285 while Troy trails the Bobcats by two strokes. 

Peyton teed off from the 10th hole and carded a triple bogey on the par-4 11th hole to start the round. She recorded three more bogeys the back nine heading into the turn and one more on the par-5 first hole. Then starting a hole later on the par-4, 347-yard third hole, the sophomore shot three birdies on the front nine - the most of any Jaguar golfer Monday - to help her record a 2-under par front nine to give her a 4-over par 76 round. The sophomore will enter the second round tied for 28th. 

Wright, who is also tied at 28th with the same round score, birdied early in the round sinking one on the par-5, 498-yard 12th hole, but bogeyed and then double bogeyed on the 13th and 14th hole, respectively. After recording a bogey on the par-4 16th hole heading into the turn, the senior shot even throughout the front nine and carded a second birdie on the par-4 6th hole to put her 1-under par through the front nine. 

Lexi Worrell recorded a 8-over-par 80 in the first round and sits in 41st. The sophomore sunk one birdie on the par-5 17th hole, but carded two bogeys, two double bogeys and a triple bogey in the round. 

Madison Connell ran into bogey trouble on the par-4 14th hole recording a triple bogey and finishing the back nine with three bogeys and a double bogey to go 8-over-par. After the turn, the junior carded four more bogeys, but ended the round with a birdie on the par-3, 157-yard 9th hole to score an 11-over-par 83 in the round. 

Elisa Axelsen rounded out the Jaguars' performances carding an 87. The senior bogeyed all but four holes and shot a double bogey on the par-4 third hole. 

South Alabama will tee off tomorrow beginning with Axelen (8 a.m.) on the 10th hole followed by Connell (8:08 a.m), Worrell (8:16 a.m.), Wright (8:24 a.m.) and Peyton (8:32 a.m.). Live stats and live streaming will continue to be available at sunbeltsports.org. 

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

Join the Chip In Club, the women's golf specific support club of the Jaguar Athletic Fund. All donations to the Chip In Club go directly to support the South Alabama women's golf program. For more information on how you can join visit: jaguarathleticfund.com/chipinclub.

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