Women's Golf in Fourth After Opening Round of Golfweek Program Challenge

Sunday, September 6

Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Mercer University

Golfweek Program Challenge

Women's Golf in Fourth After Opening Round of Golfweek Program Challenge

9/6/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf

MACON, Ga. – The Mercer University women's golf team fired a nine-over-par 293 in its opening round of the 2015-16 season, finishing fourth in the 18-team field on the opening day of the Golfweek Program Challenge at the Caledonia Golf and Fish Club.

MERCER LINEUP RESULTS
1. Jaelyn Tindal | 71 (E) | T-7th
2. Mary Janiga | 75 (+4) | T-25th
3. Terese Romeo | 75 (+4) | T-25th
4. Marin Hanna | 73 (+2) | T-15th
5. Payton Schanen | 74 (+3) | T-19th

MERCER SPOTLIGHT
Jaelyn Tindal got her sophomore campaign off to a great start, finishing the opening round with career-best score of 71. Tindal birdied three of her first six holes en route to a two-under 33 on the first nine holes, before closing the afternoon with a two-over 38. She heads into the second round of action just three strokes out of third place and on pace for his first career top-10 finish.

HOLE OF THE DAY
Marin Hanna had an incredible finish on the 16th hole to save par. After her opening drive went into a bunker, the junior was forced to lay up 100 yards from the hole. Hanna followed with a beautiful approach shot just shy of the hole to set up a par-saving putt.

THE BEARS IN THE TEAM STANDINGS
Mercer sits just three strokes out of second place after the first round of play, despite featuring just one upperclassmen in its lineup. Old Dominion leads the field following its 3-over-par 287, while Morehead State (+6, 290) and Stetson (+7, 291) round out the top three. The Bears lead Campbell, who entered the event ranked 45th in the GolfStat.com top-100, by one stroke and the rest of the top-10 by multiple shots.

COACH DRINKARD'S TAKE
"We are off to a good start. The course is amazing and in good condition. I felt that we played relaxed and made quite a few birdies out there. This team is fearless and I love that about them. If they had a bad hole, they shook it off and bounced back. Heading into tomorrow, we have the same goals of keeping it simple and having fun out there."

MERCER STORYLINES

Mercer's lineup combined for 14 birdies in the opening round play, including five from Payton Schanen and four Tindal.

Schanen had the team's best stretch of the day, posting five birdies in a nine-hole stretch. The freshman had back-to-back birdies on two occasions on the final nine holes of play, finishing with a 1-over 37 on the back nine.