^{LOXLEY, Ala. – Georgia State shot an opening round 24-over 312 to stand in fifth following the first day of the Sun Belt Women's Golf Championship on Monday afternoon. The eight-team field will return to Steelwood Country Club on Tuesday for round two of the 54-hole event.}

^{Senior Maria Palacios, coming off her win at the John Kirk Panther Intercollegiate just two weeks ago, led the Panthers with an 3-over 75 to stand in a tie for eighth place.}

^{The Panthers have won five conference championships in the last 11 years with four runner-up finishes. GSU is trying to win its first Sun Belt title in its second year in the league.}

^{“I would be lying if I didn't say today was a disappointing day for all of us,” head coach Cathy Mant said. “However, this team never gave up and we can use that over the next two days as there is a lot of golf to play.}

^{“We just made too many mistakes that caused us to put some big numbers on the scorecard. This is a great course, but it is not going to give up too many birdies and when that happens, you have to minimize your mistakes. Hopefully we can learn from that going into Tuesday.”}

^{Palacios shot 37 on the front nine and 38 on the back nine, making a birdie on the par-5 10th-hole.}

^{Junior Lauren Court is tied for 15th following a 5-over 77. She birdied the par-3 12th-hole en route to a 37 on the back nine.}

^{Senior Laura Sanchez is tied for 21st at 7-over par following an opening round 79.}

^{Senior Melissa Siviter shot a 9-over 81 on Monday and is alone in 33rd with 36 holes to play.}

^{Sophomore Julie Lied rounded out the Panthers line-up shooting 89 on Monday and is alone in 40th.}

^{Troy leads the eight-team field following an opening around 5-over, 293. The Trojans have a seven-stroke lead over Texas State which is at 12-over. South Alabama and UALR are tied for third at 16-over with Georgia State rounding out the top five.}

^{UALR's Sofia Berglund and Troy's Fatima Fern Cano were the lone two golfers to break par on Monday, each shooting 2-under (70) to take a three stroke lead into the second round. Arkansas State's Maci Arrington, Texas State's Mara Puisite, South Alabama's Ashleigh Ryals and Troy's Brooke Spinks are tied for third at 1-over.}

^{Georgia State is currently ranked No. 67 in the country by Golfweek and is the second highest ranked conference team entering the championship, only behind No. 57 Texas State.}

^{A win would guarantee the Panthers a spot in one of three NCAA Regional sites, May 5-7. Three courses will make up this year's regional sites, including Daytona Beach, Fla., Notre Dame, Ind., and Auburn, Wash.}

^{The NCAA Championship will take place May 20-23 at Tulsa Country Club in Tulsa, Okla.}