Mercer University
Cincinnati Spring Invitational
Women's Golf Third at the UC Invitational
3/23/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
CRYSTAL RIVER, Fla.—The Mercer women's golf team compiled a team score of 303 in Friday's opening day of the University of Cincinnati Invitational to place third among the 19-team field. Junior Aurelie Wiriath is third on the individual leaderboard after carding Mercer's low round of the day (73).
Mercer's effort has the team four strokes behind Stetson for second place, while Florida International leads the event with an opening round 290. Xavier is one stroke behind Mercer while Akron (305) rounds out the top-five.
"To be honest, it was different today and different isn't always bad," Mercer head coach Gary Guyer said. "We played fivesomes with all team members playing together. This team is mentally and physically tough and we know how close the deal. We should be leading this tournament, but we lost our focus on a few holes."
Wiriath's 73 is 1-over par has the Fort Lauderdale, Fla. native ahead of 99 other competitors on the leaderboard. Sophomore Mary Alice Murphy posted a 74 on Friday and is tied with five other players for 10th overall.
"Aurelie and Mary Alice were the team leaders as they usually are," Guyer said. "Their scores do not show how well they played. We are really coming together as a team and that is what wins championships. Champions find a way to win. We have two more days to figure out how to do that."
Freshman Sarah Louie Brown signed for a 77 and is tied for 27th while junior Kaitlin Marrin used 79 strokes and is tied for 46th. Sophomore Lacey Fears rounded out Mercer's competitors with an 82 and is slotted in a tie for 69th.
The second round of the UC Invitational is set for a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. Saturday.
Players Mentioned
