POOLER, Ga. – The Carson-Newman women's golf team finally got a chance to play on a golf course after surviving Snowmageddon 2015 as they completed the first round of the Armstong Pirate Women's Invitational at Savannah Quarters Golf Club.

The only opportunity Carson-Newman had to swing a club was hitting into a net set up in the Bettye Forney Indoor Golf Studio on the Jefferson City complex.

After the first day of play, the Eagles are in 14^th-place in a tournament filled with most of the best teams in the country. Each of the top-four teams in the country is playing this week in the Peach State.

Meridith Hawkins (Powell, Tenn.) led the Eagles on the course as the junior shot a 78, the first sub-80 round Carson-Newman has shot at the tournament in two years. Hawkins is tied for 38^th-place.

"Some really good shots today from everyone, but the competitiveness was not as it should be. We can blame the weather and lack of on-course practice, but I was hoping for a little better," coach Suzanne Strudwick said. "We need to rise to the level of our competitors if we if we want to rise above mediocrity. Each individual needs to believe they can play at a higher level. I know they can. Tomorrow, we have everything to gain by playing quality golf and being more competitive."

Sophomore Jessica Hart (Roanoke, Va.) shot her third best round of the season with an 82. She is tied for 58^th-place.

Senior Danielle Baiunco is tied for 63^rd at shooting an 84, while freshman Elizabeth England (Oakland, Tenn.) shot an 85 and is tied for 68^th.  Junior Kelli Pemberton (Knoxville, Tenn.) is tied for 78^th with a first round score of 89.

No. 5 Nova Southeastern leads the team competition by six strokes over the top-ranked team in the nation, the Flagler Lady Saints. Nova's Daniela Ortiz and Florida Tech's Felicia Leftinger are tied for the tournament lead after shooting a first round 69. 

The final day of the Armstrong Pirate Women's Invitational tees off Tuesday morning in Pooler at 8:30 a.m. Post round coverage will be available on cneagles.com Tuesday afternoon.

14 Carson-Newman 329

T38 Meridith Hawkins 78

T58 Jessica Hart 82

T63 Danielle Baiunco 84

T68 Elizabeth England 85

T78 Kelli Pemberton 89

-CN-