MONROE, N.C. – Carson-Newman freshman Taylor Hayes holds the lead by two strokes after the 18 holes of the South Atlantic Conference Women's Golf Championships at Monroe Country Club in Monroe, N.C. while the Eagles are tied with Lincoln Memorial for the team lead.
Hayes (Lake Ozark, Mo.) set the Carson-Newman record for lowest round at the conference tournament with an even-par 72, which bested the score of Jessica Tarbet's 73 in 2010.
The conference's reigning champions shot a 24-over 312 to tie Volunteer State rival LMU for the tourney lead.
"The team did great today," coach Suzanne Strudwick said. "We played conservatively, but aggressive when we needed. I'm really pleased with being tied with Lincoln Memorial. We still have a long way to go with more rounds. We are quietly confident.
"Taylor did great today. She stayed patient and very steady."
Hayes birdied three of the final four holes on the front nine to make the turn at one-under with a score of 35. After a double bogey on the par-four 10th, the second-team All-SAC student-athlete birdied the par-five 13th and alternated birdies and bogeys over the final four holes to enter the clubhouse at even par. The freshman's six birdies leads the field by three.
Senior Meridith Hawkins (Powell, Tenn.) carded a four-over 76 and is tied for fourth after her first 18 holes. Hawkins bogeyed four of her first holes, but recorded her lone birdie on the day at the par-four 14th. The senior had 12 pars during her round, which ties for the second-most amongst the field of 60.
Kelli Pemberton (Knoxville, Tenn.) had three double-bogeys and three bogeys for a nine-over 81 and is tied for 19th. The senior pared each of her first four holes and finished with back-to-back pars on the 17th and 18th for the 81. Pemberton is tied with Hawkins for the team lead with 12 pars.
First-team All-SAC honoree Elizabeth England (Oakland, Tenn.) made the turn with a front-nine four-over 40, but recorded either bogeys or double-bogeys on six of the first seven holes on the back nine and shot a seven-over on the final half of the course. The sophomore is tied for 26th with an 11-over 83.
Junior Jessica Hart (Roanoke, Va.) shot a 14-over 86. Hart recorded her lone birdie of the round on the par-four 12th, but followed with five-straight scores over par, including a triple-bogey on the 13th hole, to shoot eight-over 44 on the back nine. On par-fours, the Virginian shot five-over and averaged 4.50 strokes.
Hayes leads the tournament by a two strokes over LMU's Lise Malherbe, while the Railsplitters' Michaela Conway is three strokes back of the lead in third-place. Hawkins is in a five-way tie for fourth with Caitlin Starrs from Wingate, Lenoir-Rhyne's Chelsea Mansel, the conference's Player of the Year Grace Glaze from Queens (N.C.) and Newberry's Nabila Inak.
The Eagles and 'Splitters are tied for the lead with Queens and Wingate tied for third and eight strokes back. Newberry is in fifth-place.
T1 Carson-Newman 312
1 Taylor Hayes 72
T4 Meridith Hawkins 76
T19 Kelli Pemberton 81
T26 Elizabeth England 83
T43 Jessica Hart 86
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