SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. – Carson-Newman sophomore Elizabeth England shot a 73 during Sunday's first round of the Smokey Mountain Intercollegiate, which was good for second on the day, at Sevierville Golf Club's Highlands Course.
The Carson-Newman "A" team is in second, six strokes behind the leading Limestone Saints, with a first round total of 310, while the Eagles' "B" team is in seventh.
Freshman Taylor Hayes (Lake Ozark, Mo.) is tied for fourth after shooting a 76 on Sunday
"I'm really pleased. Elizabeth's 73 is really outstanding. We set this place up exactly like we had it for conference three years ago, so it is a championship-style golf course and it is set up for a conference championship," coach Suzanne Strudwick said. "To have the scores, it's fantastic; I'm really pleased."
England recorded her second 73 of the short season after her one-over round on the H ighlands Course. After opening the tournament with a double-bogey on the first hole, the sophomore responded with a birdie on the par-five second. The Oakland, Tenn.-native shot an even 38 on the front nine.
"I worked really hard this summer, really improving and now it is kind of paying off, working hard and just trusting the hard work I put in this summer," England said. "Last week, I learned a lot of good things (about contending for the lead) and hopefully tomorrow I'll actually finish strong."
Hayes (Lake Ozark, Mo.) shot an even 38 on the front nine and used that momentum to finish at four-over 76. Hayes recorded two birdies during her first nine holes of play. The freshman's 76 is a career-low in her fourth round of collegiate play.
Senior Kelli Pemberton (Knoxville, Tenn.) carded 11 pars and a birdie for a first round score of seven-over 79. Pemberton fired four-consecutive birdies from the third hole to the sixth to start her round at three-over. The senior's final five holes were shot at even-par and Pemberton finished her day with a birdie on the par-three 18.
Birdies on the seventh and ninth-holes guided senior Meridith Hawkins (Powell, Tenn.) to a 10-over 82 round during her day on the Highlands Course. Hawkins opened her final Smokey Mountain Intercollegiate with a birdie on the par-five first hole.
Senior Rebekah Pruett (Niceville, Fla.) fired a first round 84, which featured a birdie and six pars. Pruett's birdie came on the par-five 14 that stretches 410 yards.
For the "B" team, junior Jessica Hart (Roanoke, Va) began her third year in the Blue and Orange with a seven-over 79. Two birdies and nine pars highlighted Hart's opening round of the SMI; Hart tallied a three-over 37 on the back nine of her day.
Freshman Summer Smith (Knoxville, Tenn.) carded an 89 in her first collegiate round. The Knoxville-native recorded five pars in her round on the Highlands.
Sophomores Mikaela Thibodeau (Davie, Fla.) and Ashley Kay (Palos Heights, Ill.) each shot rounds in the 80s during the first round. Thibodeau shot a season-low 82, which tied her second-lowest round of her career; the Floridian is tied for 19th. Kay shot an 86, which puts her in a tie for 30th. Kay now has three rounds in the 80s on the season and it was her fifth sub-90 round of her Carson-Newman career.
"For tomorrow, I'm looking for the same thing. I know Elizabeth is looking for to win as the low individual and obviously the team. I'm just looking for a bit of the same. I think the girls have got use to the speed of the greens. I'm hoping a little bit of a pep talk tonight might get it going again tomorrow," Strudwick said.
2 Carson-Newman "A" 310
2 Elizabeth England 73 (+1)
T4 Taylor Hayes 76 (+4)
T13 Kelli Pemberton 79 (+7)
T19 Meridith Hawkins 82 (+10)
T25 Rebekah Pruett 84 (+12)
7 Carson-Newman "B"
T13 Jessica Hart 79 (+7)
T19 Miakela Thibodeau 82 (+10)
T30 Ashley Kay 86 (+14)
T35 Summer Smith 89 (+17)
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