GULF SHORES, Ala. – The University of South Alabama women's golf team shot a combined 303 Friday and is in second place, six strokes off the pace, after one round of the Bama Beach Bash at the Gulf Shores Golf Club.
Three Jaguars—Siti Shaari, Lexi Worrell and Julie Hovland—are in the top 10 after the first day of competition.
TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
Event (Host): 2019 Bama Beach Bash (Alabama-Birmingham and South Alabama)
Dates: March 22-24 (Friday-Sunday)
Format: 54 holes (18/18/18)
Start Time: 8:30 a.m.
Course: Gulf Shores Golf Club (par 72, 6,002 yds)
Live Results
TEAM SCORES
1) Bethune-Cookman 297 (+9); 2) South Alabama 303 (+15); 3) Alabama-Birmingham 311 (+23); 4) Cincinnati 317 (+29); 5) McNeese State 318 (+30); 6) West Florida 326 (+38); 7) Alabama State 332 (+44); 8) North Dakota 334 (+46); 9) Henderson State 335 (+47); 10) North Alabama 336 (+48); 11) Union (Tenn.) 346 (+58); 12) North Carolina A&T 348 (+60); 13) Spring Hill 381 (+93)
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
1) Riley Isaac, McNeese State, 71 (-1); 2) Sumie Francois, Bethune-Cookman, 72 (E); 3) Yudika Rodriguez, Bethune-Cookman, 73 (+1); T4) Siti Shaari, South Alabama, 74 (+2); T4 Amalia Shahzan, Cincinnati, 74 (+2); 6) Tie Teiniketo, Alabama-Birmingham, 75 (+3); T7) Lexi Worrell, South Alabama, 76 (+4); T7) Julie Hovland, South Alabama, 76 (+4); T7) Isabell Friberg, Bethune-Cookman, 76 (+4); T7) Caitlin Evans-Brand, Bethune-Cookman, 76 (+4)
SOUTH ALABAMA SCORES
T4) Siti Shaari, 74 (+2); T7) Lexi Worrell, 76 (+4); T7) Julie Hovland, 74 (+2); T11) Caroline Berge, 77 (+5); T48) Nele Mattner, 86 (+14); N/A) **MacKenzie Peyton, WD
**Competing as an individual
TEE SHOTS
-USA is second out of 13 teams in par-4 scoring (4.30, +12) and holes played at par (56). The Jaguars are third outright in par-5 scoring (5.24, +6) and tied for third in birdies (7).
-Shaari led USA with a 2-over-par 74 to tie for fourth individually in the 69-person field. The sophomore carded three birdies to tie for third overall in the category and is second on par-4 holes (3.88, -1).
-Hovland and Worrell are tied for seventh individually after shooting a 4-over-par 76 on the day.
-Hovland is second on the team with two birdies and tied for third overall on par-4s (4.00, E). The Bergen, Norway native played 11 holes at even-par and holds a 3.40 (+2) average on par-4 holes, which ranks among the top 20 in the field.
-Worrell is tied for third individually with a 4.80 (-1) par-5 scoring average. The senior ranks among the top 20 in par-3s (3.20, +1) and played 12 holes at even-par.
-Sophomore Caroline Berge leads the field with 14 holes played at even-par and is tied for second overall in par-3 scoring (3.00, E). She is also even on par-5 holes.
THEY SAID IT
Head Coach Matt Luther
On the opening round: "It was alright. We didn't play fantastic. Conditions were tough. We battled and did a lot of things well but just made some big numbers."
On course conditions: "The wind was blowing pretty hard out of the north, so it was a little cold. The course was super firm. We were having to play through that, which we haven't seen much this spring, so it was an adjustment. I think we should be in better shape tomorrow."
On Shaari's round: "She played solid and putted well. She had a couple of doubles, but otherwise I think she's probably in the lead. We've got to tighten some screws on decision-making and accounting for the firmness of the golf course, but we're a couple of shots back and in great shape."
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.
—USA—
