GREENSBORO, Ga. – The University of South Alabama women's golf team shot a combined 465 (+33) through one and a half rounds Saturday and is in 11th place in the Reynolds Lake Oconee Invitational hosted by Mercer at the Reynolds Lake Oconee National Course.
Sophomore Julie Hovland shot a 4-over-par 76 in the first round and is two over par through nine holes in the second round. She leads the Jaguars and is tied for 34th overall.
The 17-team tournament will conclude Sunday with an 8 a.m. silent shotgun start for the remaining 27 holes.
TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
Event (Host): Reynolds Lake Oconee Invitational (Mercer)
Dates: Feb. 16-17 (Saturday-Sunday)
Format: 54 holes (27/27)
Start Time: 8 a.m.
Course: Reynolds Lake Oconee – National Course Ridge (par 36, 3,051 yds); Bluff (par 36, 3,060 yds); Cove (par 36, 3,058 yds)
Live Results
TEAM SCORES
T1) Texas Tech 292-150—442 (+10); T1) Mercer 297-145—442 (+10); T3) Vanderbilt 292-154—446 (+14); T3) Chattanooga 297-149—446 (+14); T5) UNC Wilmington 300-147—447 (+15); T5) Kentucky 293-154—447 (+15); 7) Missouri 303-152—455 (+23); 8) East Tennessee State 305-152—457 (+25); 9) Rutgers 310-148—458 (+26); 10) Northern Illinois 305-155—460 (+28); 11) South Alabama 309-156—465 (+33); 12) Albany 314-155—469 (+37); T13) South Dakota State 318-154—472 (+40); T13) Delaware 315-157—472 (+40); 15) Eastern Kentucky 317-161—478 (+46); 16) Bradley 318-161—479 (+47); (17) Yale 319-161—480 (+48)
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
1) Sofia Garcia, Texas Tech, 70-36—106 (-2); 2) Thao My Nguyen, UNC Wilmington, 72-36—108 (E); T3) Rachel Mast, UNC Wilmington, 71-38—109 (+1); T3) Kirsty Beckwith, Chattanooga, 72-37—109 (+1); T3) **Chandler Rosholt, Auburn, 74-35—109 (+1); T3) Lauren Lightfritz, Mercer, 74-35—109 (+1); T3) Payton Schanen, Mercer, 73-36—109 (+1); T3) Amanda Kim, Missouri, 72-37—109 (+1); T3) Auston Kim, Vanderbilt, 70-39—109 (+1); (T3) **Gracyn Burgess, Clemson, 74-35—109 (+1)
**Competing as an individual
SOUTH ALABAMA SCORES
T34) Julie Hovland, 76-38—114 (+6); T44) MacKenzie Peyton, 78-38—116 (+8); T44) Siti Shaari, 77-39—116 (+8); T75) Caroline Berge, 78-41—119 (+11); T90) **Nele Mattner, 84-40—124 (+16); T90) Lexi Worrell, 83-41—124 (+16)
**Competing as an individual
TEE SHOTS
-Hovland is tied for fourth individually in par-5 scoring (-1) and leads the team with four birdies.
-Caroline Berge played 19 of 27 holes at par and leads the team in par-3 scoring (3.00, E).
-Senior MacKenzie Peyton holds a 4.33 (+5) average on par-4 holes, including a birdie on the first hole of the second round. She and sophomore Siti Shaari are tied for second on the team in par-5 scoring (5.17, +1).
-Shaari is also second on the team in par-4 (4.27, +4) scoring and birdies (3).
-South Alabama is tied for fifth in the field with 11 birdies on the day.
THEY SAID IT
Head Coach Matt Luther
On today's performance: "We did some things well. It's a tough golf course. We struggled a bit on the greens. Conditions were tough. We managed it alright; we could've done a better job. I think we're near the middle somewhere, which is good for how we played. We definitely have much better golf in us."
On course conditions: "It was super muddy and wet. The greens are pretty difficult to begin with, so the course played tough. We've just got to recognize that. We've got to play conservatively when we need to and do a better job of that."
On Hovland's play: "Par-5s are difficult, but they're definitely scoreable. You've got to make good decisions, which she does. That's just a testament to her thought process."
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/WeAreSouth_JAGS. 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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