SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. – With a 26-over Sunday score of 310, Carson-Newman placed at fourth on the leaderboard through the first round of the Bobby Nichols Intercollegiate at the Sevierville Golf Club.
The Eagles' opening round matches its fourth-lowest round score of the season which was set in the first round of the King Invitational back in September.
"Really pleased with our first round today," head coach Suzanne Strudwick said. "Whole team came together well and competed with intensity and focus. Big turnaround from our last tournament effort.
"Weather could be a factor next couple of days, but I like our position and the effort level of our team."
Taylor Hayes (Lake Ozark, Mo.) led the Eagles through the first day with an opening round score of 76, putting her at five-over par. She landed at a tie for 11th.
Her round of 76 marks her best first round score of the season.
One stroke behind her was Elizabeth England (Oakland, Tenn.) with a +6 score of 77, good enough for a tie at 14th.
The defending champion at the event was tied for the top spot in par shooting as she shot even on 13 holes. She also tied for third-best on par four scoring with an even 4.00 clip.
"Elizabeth had one unfortunate eight on her card which is unlike her normal play," Strudwick mentioned of the senior. "I expect she will score lower depending on how the weather affects the playing conditions."
Allie Fletcher (Cummming, Ga.) sat at a tie for 17th by the end of Sunday. She carded a seven-over score of 78.
Reagan Kinnie (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) was the lone participant sitting at 27th at the conclusion of the first day. She was eight-over with a 79 total through the first 18.
Matilda Frovenholt (Öjersjö, Sweden) shot an 81 in her first round, placing her at 10 above par at a tie for 32nd.
Individual participants Anna Davenport (Roswell, Ga.) and Rachel Watts (Newport, Tenn.) both were 13-over in the first round. Their score of 84 placed them at 43rd on the leaderboard.
Davenport was the strongest Eagle on holes that held a par 3. She was one-over on such holes with a 3.17 average score, tied for fourth-best in the field.
Jacksonville State was the top team through the first day with a first round total of 299 at 15-over par. Seven strokes behind in second was Marshall while host team Tennessee Tech sat at third with a +25 score of 309.
On the individual side, Jacksonville State's Valentina Giraldo was the leading participant on Sunday with a three-under score of 68. The only other participant to finish the first day under par was Tennessee Tech's Allyson Dunn at one-under. Rounding out the top-three in the field was a three-way tie at third between Tennessee's Haley Wagner and Mariah Smith along with Jacksonville State's Valentina Curet. The trio each carded a 71 score to be even for par.
The tournament continues on Monday with another round of 18. A shotgun start will kick off the action on the Highlands Course at 8:30 a.m.
