STOCKBRIDGE, Ga. – The Georgia State women's golf team shot a 12-over 300 and opened a four stroke lead after the first-round of the 21st annual John Kirk Panther Intercollegiate at Eagle's Landing Country Club on Sunday.
Georgia's Amira Alexander, competing as an individual, was the lone golfer to break par, shooting a 1-under 71 to take a one stroke lead into the second-round on Monday.
Senior Maria Palacios is alone in second-place after shooting an even par 72 to lead Georgia State. The Panthers are looking to win its home event for the fourth time in the last seven years.
Palacios has already recorded four top-10 finishes this year. She made a pair of birdies and a pair of bogeys during the first round.
“I'm thrilled that we have the lead,” head coach Cathy Mant said. “It was a difficult day with the winds, cold and a wet course. The team hung in there and even though we lost some shots at the end, overall I am extremely pleased.
“I am excited the way Maria is playing right now and Julie had one of her best rounds of the spring. Lauren also played great golf throughout the day and I know that Melissa will come back with a great round tomorrow.”
Junior Lauren Court is tied for ninth at 3-over par following an opening round 75. Court made three birdies in the first-round and was 1-over before her only stumble of the day, a double bogey on the 18th.
Sophomore Julie Lied shot 76 on Sunday and is tied for 16th at 4-over. Lied also made three birdies during the opening round.
Senior Laura Sanchez, who finished fourth in this tournament last year, is currently tied for 22nd after shooting a 5-over 77.
Senior Melissa Siviter shot an opening day 7-over 79 and is tied for 34th in the 90-player field.
Senior Solveig Helgesen along with freshmen Solene LeCoz and Jooeun Bae competed as individuals for the Panthers. LeCoz opened with a 5-over 77 to stand in a tie for 22nd with 36 holes to play.
Bae opened play with an 8-over 80 and is tied for 41st, while Helgesen shot an 11-over 83 to stand in a tie for 62nd.
The Panthers lead Campbell and Troy by four strokes. The Camels and Trojans each shot opening round 304s. Kennesaw State is currently in fourth at 17-over, followed by Old Dominion in fifth at 19-over.
UGA's Alexander leads Georgia State's Palacios by one stroke. UALR's Sofie Kvarnstrom and Kennesaw State's Kaew Preamchuen are tied for third at 1-over. A group of four golfers are tied for fifth at 2-over, including Jacksonville State's Anne Kathrin Albrecht, Troy's Fatima Fern Cano, Old Dominion's Gemma Fuster and Campbell's Kaylin Yost.
Georgia State enters the week ranked No. 64 in the country by Golfweek. The Panthers are the third highest ranked team in the field behind only No. 58 Campbell and No. 62 Mercer.
The John Kirk Panther Intercollegiate was first played in 1993 at Northwood Country Club, the home of the Panthers until 1999. The tournament was founded by then-Georgia State golf coach Kevin Propst and assistant Kirk McQueen with extensive help and support from Northwood County Club club pro John Kirk. When John Kirk passed away after a battle with cancer, his name was added to the Panther Intercollegiate to honor his assistance and commitment to the Georgia State women's golf program.
After one year at Chateau Elan Golf Club in 2000, the John Kirk Panther Intercollegiate moved to Eagle's Landing Country Club in Stockbridge, Ga. and has remained there ever since.
Georgia State and Campbell have each won the event four times. The Panthers have also had three individuals win the event, most recently Cathrine Madsen in 2010.
This will mark the Panthers final event of the regular season. Georgia State will return to the course for the Sun Belt Conference Championship at Steelwood Country Club in Loxley, Ala., April 14-16.