Mercer University
Atlantic Sun Championship
Women's Golf Fourth at A-Sun Championships
4/9/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. – The Mercer women's golf team is in the hunt for an Atlantic Sun Championship after posting a 298 in Monday's opening round at the Venetian Bay Golf Course. Mercer's 298 was highlighted by sophomore Lacey Fears' 1-under 71, and has the Bears just eight strokes off the pace of tournament leader East Tennessee State.
On the team leaderboard, ETSU leads the way with a Monday total of 290. Kennesaw State (292) is second while Stetson (293) is third. Mercer's 298 is 14 strokes ahead of Florida Gulf Coast, while USC upstate (316), Jacksonville (317), Belmont (319) and Lipscomb (321) round out the field.
"We played well today and could have scored much, much better," Mercer head coach Gary Guyer said. "The team is loose and having a lot of fun. That is really what it is all about and we've got two more days to catch some teams."
Fears was locked in right from the start, carding her first birdie of the day on the second hole before stringing together 13 straight pars. Her final three holes featured a birdie, a bogey and a par and slotted her in a tie for fourth overall with the opening round 71.
Fears' Monday effort has her only four strokes behind ETSU's Gabriella Wahl for the tournament lead. Stetson's Alex Buelow and Kennesaw State's Ket Preamchuen are tied for second with 70's while ETSU's Sian Evans and Stetson's Lauren Cate also shot 71.
Junior Aurelie Wiriath is tied for 10th overall with a 75 while sophomore Mary Alice Murphy and freshman Sarah Louie Brown both shot 76 and are tied for 15th. Junior Kaitlin Marrin rounded out Mercer's competitors with a 78 and is tied for 21st.
The second round of the Atlantic Sun Championship is set for an 8 a.m. start on Tuesday morning.
Players Mentioned
