Knoxville, Tenn. – Freshman Jenny Haggblom led the way with a 73 (+1) as the Georgia State women's team golf battled through the opening round at the Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Championship in Knoxville, Tenn. Friday afternoon. Georgia State shot a 304 (+16) to finish the day tied for 10^th place.

Haggblom leads the Panthers after the first 18 holes firing a 1-over 73, her best round thus far this season. The Eckero, Finland native completed the opening round tied for 13^th place.

After shooting even par on the front nine, freshman Laura Sanchez bogied three holes on the back nine to finish with a 3-over 75. Sanchez stands in a tie for 33^rd place entering the second round.

Junior transfer Charlotte Guilleux carded a 76 (+4) in the first round to finish with a share of 42^nd place, while freshman Solveig Helgesen shot an 80 (+8) to finish tied for 69^th.

Rounding out the Panthers was red-shirt junior Cherishton Brett who shot a first round 103 in her first round of the fall season.

“We hit good shots today but I'm still not really pleased with where we are finishing,” said head coach Cathy Mant. “We're tied for 10^th out of 15 and that is really not where we want to be. We are a really young team and these are just some of the growing pains that come along with that. We're not that far out of the competition. We have to do a little better with the mental aspects, our decisions on the course plus a  little improvement on execution. We just have to come out tomorrow ready to play. The ladies have a tremendous attitude and they don't give up. As a coach, I can't ask for much more than that.”

Host Tennessee, which has three players in the top six, leads the 15-team field after an opening round 8-under 280. The Volunteers were the only team to remain under par after the first 18 holes. Ole Miss stands in second place firing place firing a 3-over 291, while No. 14 Arkansas falls one stroke behind in third. No. 18 Kent State and TCU round out the top five, both shooting a 5-over 293.

Tennessee's Erica Popson leads the field after shooting a 5-under 67 in the first round. Teammate Nathalie Mansson is two strokes behind with a 3-under 69 and stands tied for second with Arkansas's Kelli Shean.

 Tee times begin at 9 a.m. both Saturday and Sunday off the first and tenth tees. Live stats are available via GolfStat.com. Full recaps of each round will be posted at GeorgiaStateSports.com when play concludes for the day.

Team Results

1.        Tennessee – 280

T2.      Ole Miss – 291

T2.      Arkansas-291

T4.      TCU- 293

T4.      Kent State – 293

6.        Notre Dame - 295

7.        Furman – 298

8.        Chattanooga – 300

9.        James Madison – 303

T10.    Coastal Carolina – 304

T10.    Georgia State – 304

T10.    ETSU - 304

13.      UTSA – 305

14.      Kentucky – 307

15.      UNCG - 312

GSU Individuals

T13. Jenny Haggblom – 73

T33. Laura Sanchez – 75

T42. Charlotte Guilleux – 76

T69. Solveig Helgesen – 80

83. Cherishton Brett - 103