Mercer University
JU Classic
Women's Golf Leads Day One of JU Classic
2/5/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Mercer sophomore Lacey Fears fired a one-under 71 on the opening day of the Jacksonville University Classic to help the Bears finish the first round atop the team leaderboard. Mercer posted a team cumulative total of 296 on Sunday and holds a 10-stroke lead on the next closest team.
Mercer's 296 places the Bears 10 strokes ahead of host school Jacksonville. Daytona State and Florida Atlantic (313) are tie for third place while Florida Gulf Coast (317) and USC Upstate (322) round out the six-team field.
"We played really well today," Mercer head coach Gary Guyer said. "We didn't play great today, but we were consistent. I'm proud of everyone for staying inside themselves and playing the golf course.
Fears led the field in pars on Sunday, booking 15 en route to her 71. The Bonaire, Ga. native was the only player to record a sub-par opening round.
"That's actually two 71's in a row for Lacey going back to the tournament in Hawaii," Guyer said. "She's playing really consistent golf."
Junior Aurelie Wiriath is tied for second overall with Daytona State's Erin Selfridge after posting a 74 on Sunday. Sophomore Mary Alice Murphy is one stroke behind Wiriath and is tied with FAU's Anna Wiklund for fourth place individually.
Junior Kaitlin Marrin is part of a five-way tie for sixth place after carding a 76 while freshman Sarah Louise Brown is slotted in a tie for 20th after using 80 strokes.
Brown, Fears, Marrin and Wiriath all notched two birdies in the opening 18 holes and Mercer leads the tournament in par-three scoring (3.15) and par-five scoring (5.0).
"Being in the lead is a good place to be," Guyer said. "In the past when we've had a lead we've closed it."
The second round of the JU Classic is set to start at 10:10 a.m. on Monday.
Players Mentioned
