Mercer University
A-Sun Championship
Graff Atop Leaderboard, Women's Golf Fifth at A-Sun Championship
4/11/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
DELAND, Fla. – Mercer sophomore Kimmy Graff posted the lowest round of her collegiate career, a two-under 70 in Monday's opening round of the Atlantic Sun Championship. Graff leads all players at the event and helped Mercer wrap up day one at the Victoria Hills Golf Club in fifth place.
Mercer's opening round total of 300 places the team just six strokes out of first place. Kennesaw State leads the tournament after finishing day one with a 294 while Campbell (297) is second. East Tennessee State and Stetson each used 298 strokes and are tied for third place.
Graff's started hot on Monday, tallying birdies on three of her first five holes en route to her 70. Graff's total outpaced all of the 49 other competitors and she was one of just four players to post a sub-par round.
"I walked with Kimmy Graff today and she was hitting her targets and playing smart golf," Mercer head coach Gary Guyer said. "Her wedge play has become the best part of her game and she was getting up and down from everywhere."
Graff had two freshmen teammates join her in the field's top-15 players. Lacey Fears and Mary Alice Murphy both had strong showings in their A-Sun tournament debuts. Fears shot 74 and is tied for eighth while Murphy carded a 75 and is tied for 13th.
Sophomores Kaitlin Marrin and Aurelie Wiriath also competed for Mercer on Monday, shooting 81 and 85, respectively. Marrin is tied for 36th while Wiriath is tied for 45th place overall.
"Shooting 300 is our goal, so we are doing what we are supposed to be," Guyer said.
Day two of the 2011 A-Sun Championship is scheduled to begin Tuesday at 8 a.m. Mercer's golfers will be paired with participants from Stetson and Florida Gulf Coast. Wiriath is scheduled to go off first for Mercer at 9:20 a.m.
Players Mentioned
