In a first round delayed hours due to sub-freezing temperatures and on a course that yielded no sub-par rounds, the Panthers' shot a team score of 318 (+30) to finish the day in sole possession of seventh among the 21-team field. Georgia State trails leading 56th-ranked East Tennessee State (307) by 11 strokes on Pinehurst #8 at Pinehurst Resort.
While the condition-influenced score of 318 marked the Panthers' highest team round of the season, reflecting the challenges of Pinehurst #8 and the weather, Georgia State is just five strokes behind the highest-ranked team in the field, 19th-ranked East Carolina (313, +25). In addition, the Panthers lead fellow Colonial Athletic Association member James Madison by nine strokes, as the Dukes sit in a tie for 15th (327).
"We had a really difficult, long, cold day," said Georgia State head coach Cathy Mant. "We're in seventh and are in a position to try and move up the board tomorrow. But, conditions considered, I was not real pleased with how we played. Across the field the scores are high, but I'm disappointed in our performance because we're better than that. That said, we're going to learn from today and we're going to go get them tomorrow."
In addition to Verwey's top-15 performance amid the conditions, sophomore Nicole Loesch carded a first-round score of 78 (+6) to finish tied for 20th in the 115-player field.
"I was real pleased with the way Nicole [Loesch] played out there today in our five position," added Mant.
Redshirt junior Anna Scott finished her first round tied for 39th (81, +9), while sophomore Cathrine Madsen sits tied for 54th (82, +10) and redshirt freshman Sandra Maier is tied in 89th (85, +13). Scott carded 13 pars in her round, second most among the field, and Madsen tied for second best in par three scoring (2.75, -1).
Because the tournament was delayed due to cold temperatures, the foursomes were forced to tee off in shotgun format at 12:30 p.m, but congestion on the par-72, 5,968-yard layout resulted in six-hour round times.
"It was a really long day with some waiting, and that can affect your concentration," added Mant. "That and the temperature, steady winds and tough greens made it a difficult round, but the girls hung in there on a great course."
The second-round of the Pinehurst Challenge will begin with a shotgun format at 12:30 p.m. and the Panthers will tee off in foursomes spread from the fourth to the seventh hole. Post-round results can be found at GeorgiaStateSports.com.
Georgia State Individual Scores:
T14th - Iliska Verwey - 77, +5
T20th - Nicole Loesch - 78, +6
T39th - Anna Scott - 81, +9
T54th - Cathrine Madsen - 82, +10
T 89th - Sandra Maier - 85, +13
Team Scores:
1- East Tennessee State - 307, +19
2 -Tenn.-Chattanooga - 311, +23
3 - N. Car.- Greensboro - 313, +25
East Carolina Univ. - 313, +25
5 - Boise State Univ. - 314, +26
6 - Charleston, Coll. of - 317, +29
7 - Georgia State Univ. - 318, +30
8 - South Florida - 319, +31
9 - Oregon State U. - 321, +33
10 - Texas State Univ. - 322, +34
11 - Maryland, U. of - 323, +35
Augusta State U. - 323, +35
13 - Penn State Univ. - 324, +36
14 - Coastal Carolina U. - 326, +38
15 - Western Carolina U. - 327, +39
Stetson University - 327, +39
James Madison Univ. - 327, +39
18 - Bucknell University - 328, +40
19 - Memphis, Univ. of - 330, +42
20 - Jacksonville St. - 331, +43
Marshall University - 331, +43
22 - Charleston Southern - 338, +50
