MOBILE, Ala. – The ULM women's golf team has four players inside the Top-16 individually and sits in third place after shooting a 4-over-par 292 in the first round of the USA Intercollegiate Saturday at RTJ Golf Trail-Crossings Course.
"We had some good scores today," ULM golf assistant coach Lana Hodge said. "Everyone seemed to be hitting their irons well and giving themselves opportunities to make birdies. I feel like as a group we left several shots out there, and hopefully, we can capitalize more on our birdie attempts tomorrow."
The Warhawks are six shots back of leader Western Kentucky and two shots behind second-place South Alabama. The Hilltoppers shot a 2-under-par 286 to claim the round one lead, while the host Jaguars shot a 2-over-par 290.
Junior Jahaanvie Walia is five shots behind the leader, Western Kentucky's Rylea Marcum. Marcum shot a first-round 5-under-par 67. Walia paced the Warhawks, sitting in a tie for sixth with an even par 72. She opened the back nine on fire by picking up three straight birdies and tallied four birdies overall to go with 11 pars. She tees off for round two at 8:36 a.m. Sunday.
"Jahaanvie made three birdies in a row to start her back nine and then a fourth birdie after a double bogey, which is always great to see a bounce-back hole," Hodge said.
Sophomore Chantal Dueringer and freshman Line Petersen are each a shot back of Walia as part of an eight-way tie for eighth with a 1-over-par 73.
Dueringer tallied three birdies on the day and closed her round with a birdie on the 18th hole. She added 11 pars in the round. She tees off for round two at 8:48 a.m. Sunday.
Petersen opened the round with back-to-back birdies, including a chip-in on the par-3 second hole, and added a third on the 14th to go along with 12 pars. She tees off at 8:12 a.m. Sunday.
Senior Shani White is tied for 16th place after a first round 2-over-par 74. White birdied the par-5 sixth hole to go along with 14 pars in the round. She tees off at 8 a.m. Sunday.
Freshman Charlotte Fourdraine rounded out the team scoring with a first-round 80 and earned a birdie on the par-5 13th. She tees off at 8:24 a.m. Sunday.
Junior Eva Bjornsdottir, competing as an individual, finished the first round in 24th place after shooting a 4-over-par 76. She drained her only birdie of the day on the par-3 second hole. She tees off at 9:36 a.m. Sunday.
"Tomorrow, we will be off first, so hopefully, we can get the day going on a great note with some low scores," Hodge said.
The tournament continues Sunday and Monday in Mobile. A link to live scoring is available on the women's golf schedule page at ULMWarhawks.com.
