GREENVILLE, S.C. – Georgia State shot an opening-round 302 and stands tied for eighth following the first round of the Lady Paladin Invitational on the Furman University Course. After shooting 11-over on their opening nine, the Panthers rebounded nicely to shoot just 3-over on the second nine, making seven birdies as a team.
The round of 302 ties the team's lowest score at the Lady Paladin in seven rounds. The last two times competing in the event in 2010 and 2011, Georgia State finished second and third respectively.
Four Panthers stand among the top 33, with senior Melissa Siviter and junior Lauren Court shooting rounds of 75 for GSU to be tied for 25th after one round. Senior Laura Sanchez and sophomore Julie Lied both shot rounds of 76 and are tied for 33rd with 36-holes to play.
“I thought we played really well and hit the ball nicely,” head coach Cathy Mant said. “We missed a few putts, but that is okay. I don't think out score represents how well we played and we still positioned ourselves nicely after the first round.
“Tomorrow we are looking at the potential for bad weather, but our international players are used to that, so if it happens, it will play to our advantage. We are excited about our start as our goal is to shoot rounds of 300 this year. If we do that, we know that we will be a great shape.
“I am very proud of the team right now. They worked hard over the summer. My hope and wish was that it would pay off and today, it did.”
After going out in 39, Siviter responded with three birdies on the front nine, to shoot even par. Court's round began with a double-bogey, before she too rebounded nicely with four birdies over the final 17 holes.
Sanchez shot 3-over on her first nine, before shooting 37 on the second nine, while Lied shot 2-over on each nine.
Senior Maria Palacios rounded out the Panthers line-up with a 9-over 81 to stand tied for 75th.
Freshman Solene Le Coz, competing as an individual, made her GSU debut, shooting 78 to stand tied for 57th.
GRU Augusta (formerly Augusta State) leads the field following a first round 3-under 285. Clemson was the only other team to break par, shooting a 1-under 287 to stand in second. Host Furman and Wisconsin are tied for third at 2-over, with Florida State rounding out the top-five at 6-over.
The Panthers are just one-stroke behind Coastal Carolina and East Carolina for sixth.
Clemson's Ashlan Ramsey and GRU Augusta's Eunice Yi are tied for the top spot after each shooting 4-under 68s. GRU Augusta's Casey Kennedy and Clemson's Sloan Shanahan are tied for third at 3-under, with UNCW's Lori Beth Adams rounding out the top-five following a 2-under 70.
Due to the inclement weather expected Saturday afternoon, all teams will tee-off in a shotgun start at 9 a.m. Georgia State will play its second round with East Carolina and Wofford.
Live scoring can be found throughout the tournament at Golfstat.com.
Following this week's action, Georgia State will return to the course Sept. 30-Oct. 2 at the Old Waverly Bulldog Invitational hosted by Mississippi State in Starkville, Miss.
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