Tusculum’s strong women’s golf team jumped out front by eight strokes Wednesday
in the opening round of the first South Atlantic Conference’s women’s golf
tournament.Tusculum’s Pioneers,
coached by Bob Dibble, had a 335 score after the first 18-hole round at the Country Club
of Salisbury. Lenoir-Rhyne was second at 343, followed by Gardner-Webb at 348.
Four of Tusculum’s five players shot in the
80s with Morgan Campbell’s 9-over-par 81 leading the way. Rachel McFarland shot an
82, and Erin Bradbury and Holly Burns each shot an 86.
Lenoir-Rhyne’s Megan Jolly holds the
individual lead in the two-day, 36-hole event with a 3-over 75. Her closest challengers
heading into this morning’s final round were Brazilian Cris Mechereffe of Wingate and
Hannah Storey of Gardner-Webb with 79s.
Wingate is fourth at 429, followed by Catawba at
462 and Newberry at 534.
Catawba, in the first year of its program, was led
by sophomore Aimee Davis of Salisbury with an 87. Her round was highlighted by an unusual
birdie on the par-5 No. 4 hole. After hitting her tee shot off the cart path and out of
bounds to the right, Davis took the stroke penalty, teed up another ball and hit it down
the fairway. Her next shot with a 3-wood from about 180 yards went into the cup.
Tina Robinson was No. 2 for the Lady Indians with
a 90.
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NOTES: While Cris Mechereffe was shooting her 79,
18-year-old brother Fernando was watching the Wingate golfers. He’s on a recruiting
trip to Wingate, where Scott Hunsucker is the head coach. Mechereffe is the No. 1-ranked
junior golfer in Brazil and the No. 7-ranked amateur. ... Katie Laettner is a member of
the Wingate golf team, and it’s her third sport of the school year. A basketball and
volleyball player, she’s the sister of former Duke star Christian Laettner, now with
the Atlanta Hawks of the National Basketball Association. ... Gardner-Webb, still in
contention going into today’s round, is coached by Brian Ashley, a former East Rowan
High School and Pfeiffer University golf standout. Ashley lives in Faith. ...
Catawba’s Davis, another East Rowan graduate, was a member of Lenoir-Rhyne’s
first women’s team last year and is now a member of Catawba’s first team. ...
Tusculum’s Stephanie Crandell, who is competing individually, has made two hole in
ones in her career, including one last month in a practice round at Eagle Chase Golf Club
near Marshville.
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