KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. – Carson-Newman women's golf Suzanne Strudwick's plan for her team to get her team's competitive juices flowing before the first tournament of the 2015 spring season has worked out well thus far.

After the first round of the Kiawah Intercollegiate at Cougar Point Golf Club in Kiawah Island, S.C., the Eagles are perched in sixth-place and within striking distance of the leaders. 

Freshman Elizabeth England (Oakland, Tenn.) followed up her performance on Thursday in the Newberry dual meet with her lowest round of the season, a 72, and is tied for fifth.

"Pleased with the start, an outstanding score by freshman Elizabeth England," said. "We were solid on a tough course in breezy conditions. I think we can go lower tomorrow as the team will feel green speeds better. Meridith has a solid start to the season, too."

Junior Meridith Hawkins (Knoxville, Tenn.) shot a 77 placing her in a four-way tie for 13^th-place. Hawkins's 77 is tied for the third-lowest score of the season and the fourth time this season she has shot that score.

Senior Danielle Baiunco (Melbourne, Fla.) sits tied for 52^nd with teammate Jessica Hart (Roanoke, Va.) with a score of 77. That's only Baiunco's seventh non-70 round of the season in six events. Hart's 83 is tied for her third-lowest round of the season.

Junior Rebekah Pruett (Niceville, Fla.) rounded out the Eagles' team with a score of 90.

Carson-Newman is the highest-placed South Atlantic Conference team in the 16-team field that features Newberry, Wingate, Lincoln Memorial, Tusculum and Anderson. The Eagles are sit higher in the standings than four teams ranked ahead of them according to Golfstat.com.

The second and final round of the Kiawah Intercollegiate tees off Sunday morning.

Carson-Newman:                  313     313

T-5 Elizabeth England          72       72

T-13 Meridith Hawkins        77       77

T-52 Danielle Baiunco          83       83

T-52 Jessica Hart                   83       83

T-70 Rebekah Pruett 90       90

-CN-