MOBILE. Ala. – Freshman Caroline Berge and junior Lexi Worrell finished day one of the USA Intercollegiate in the top-5 and helped the Jaguars women's golf finish the day tied in first with Alabama-Birmingham.

Berge finished the day with a 70 (-2) and sits behind leader Maria Donado of UAB by just a stroke. Worrell is not far behind finishing in a tie for third at 71 (-1) and freshman Siti Shaari kicked off her career with an even-par on the day.

TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
Event (host): USA Intercollegiate (South Alabama)
Date: 9/16
Course: RTJ Trail-Magnolia Grove Crossings (par 72, 6,002 yds)
Live scoring: http://results.golfstat.com//public/leaderboards/gsnav.cfm?pg=participants&tid=13375

TEAM SCORES
T1) South Alabama 288 (E); T1) Alabama-Birmingham 288 (E); 3) Tulane 290 ( 2); 4) Troy 295 ( 7); T5) Western Kentucky 296 ( 8); T5) Lamar 296 ( 8); T7) Texas-Arlington 302 ( 14); T7) McNeese State 302 ( 14); 9) Alabama State 404 ( 16); 10) Samford 311 ( 23); 11) West Florida 317 ( 29); T12) Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 322 ( 34); 13) Lipscomb 324 (36).

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
1) Maria Donado, UAB 69 (-3); 2) Caroline Berge, USA 70 (-2; T3) Lexi Worrell, USA 71 (-1); T3) Haydyn Gibson, Tulane 71 (-1); T3) Gabrielle Correia, Tulane 71 (-1); T7) eight individuals 72 (E).

SOUTH ALABAMA SCORES
2) Caroline Berge, USA 70 (-2; T3) Lexi Worrell, USA 71 (-1); T8) Siti Shaari 72 (E); T26) MacKenzie Peyton 75 ( 3); T40) Julie Hovland 78 ( 6).

TEE SHOTS
-Berge and Worrell posted a score below-par for the first in their collegiate careers.
-Only six players posted a below-par round.
-Berge scored a team-leading four birdies in the opening round.
-Shaari posted three birdies in her opening round.

THEY SAID IT
Head coach Matt Luther
On the first round: "They played good, but still have a lot of room to grow which is exciting. We want to keep getting better and maintain our momentum the next two days."
On the freshmen: "You had a two-under (Berge) and an even-par (Shaari) out of the freshmen. Julie (Hovland) played better than her score. We have room to get better and that's what we're going to try and do."
On Worrell's first-career round under-par: "It was fantastic. She has been working hard and it's starting to pay off."

Up next: The Jaguars kickoff round two of the USA Intercollegiate tomorrow (Sept. 17). Tee times begin at 8:30 a.m. and South Alabama student-athletes tee off starting at 10:10 a.m.

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).