Pinehurst, N.C. – The Georgia State women's golf team made its presence known during the first day of the Colonial Athletic Association Championship, picking up right where it left off last season by finishing round one at the top of the leader board. The Panthers are attempting to win their third consecutive CAA title at the par 72, 6,002-yard Pinehurst No. 6 in Pinehurst, N.C. Friday.
Despite incessant rain and cool temperatures, the Panthers powered through the adversity presented by Mother Nature to shoot an opening round 307 (+19). Georgia State took hold of first place in the 10-team field, behind the top-5 effort of freshman Solveig Helgesen and junior Charlotte Guilleux.
“I cannot begin to express how proud I am of the team today,” said head coach Cathy Mant. “This is by far the worst weather we have had to play through all season, yet there was no complaining or letting up from any of the girls. Everyone had high spirits and kept an excellent attitude throughout the day, which I think had a great effect on our first-place finish.”
Helgesen leads the Panthers after day one, shooting an opening-round 74 (+2). The freshman's 2-over par effort ties her career-low 74 that she earned in the second round of the 2010 Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Classic played during Georgia State's fall season. Helgesen fired two birdies, four bogeys and even par on the remaining 12 holes to stand in a tie for third place with UNC Wilmington's Jeanne Metivier.
“Solveig played such a great round,” said Mant. “To match her best round in the kind of weather we had is just phenomenal. She really saved the bacon for us today.”
Guilleux fired 3-over 75 during the first round to finish just one stroke back from Helgesen in a three-way tie for fifth place. The junior birdied the first and eighth holes, then maintained even par on the next eight before faltering with two bogeys on holes 16 and 18.
Junior Charlotte Lorentzen, the 2010 CAA Champion, carded a first round 78 (+6). The Soroe, Denmark native enters day two with a share of 13th place.
Freshman Laura Sanchez concluded the day in a tie for 21st place, shooting an 8-over 80. Redshirt-junior Cherishton Brett rounded out the Panthers' line-up with an opening-round 84 (+12), good for a share of 38th place overall.
Behind Georgia State on the leader board are Old Dominion and Richmond, tied for second-place at 309 (+21). James Madison and UNC Wilmington sit in fourth, five strokes back from the lead at 312 (+24).
In the individual competition, Richmond's Jillian Fraccola and William and Mary's Caroline Sweet share the top spot, both shooting 1-over on the first day of the tournament. Trailing the leaders by just one stroke are Helgesen and Metivier at 2-over, followed by Guilleux, Kristen Hagan of Old Dominion and Sofia Hagsund of UNC Wilmington all tied for fifth place at 3-over.
The Panthers returns to the course Saturday with their round two tee times beginning at 8:45 a.m. off the first tee. Georgia State will be paired with Richmond and Old Dominion.
Live stats are available via GolfStat.com. Full recaps of each round will be posted at www.GeorgiaStateSports.com when play concludes for the day.
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