STRONG FINISH PROPELS WOMEN’S GOLF AT BIG SOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP

ROUND 1

NINETY SIX, S.C. – By carding a combined 6-over-par on its back nine, Radford returned a 315 to the clubhouse Sunday afternoon and is tied for fifth after day one of the Big South Women's Golf Championship held at The Patriot Club (par 72, 6,083 yards).

“We got off to a very tough start, but we have talked about this being a long tournament,” head coach Jeff Beeler said. “After the first six holes, we played some very solid golf.”

Solid golf is right. Alexandra Austin scorched the Davis Love III-designed layout with a 1-over-par 73 to tie for fourth. Through three holes, the sophomore was 3-over-par. However, she rebounded in brilliant fashion by playing the final 15 holes in 2-under-par.

Tied for 17th is Kirsty Condon, who fired a 6-over-par 78. After going out in 5-over-par, the junior turned things around by tallying a 1-over-par inward nine, which included a birdie at the par-5 18th.

Hayley Hammond is tied for 26th after her 7-over-par 79. Steadiness was the theme of her round as she recorded 13 pars, including eight on her final nine holes en route to a 1-over-par 37.

Paige Reese is tied for 40th and Katie Parrott is tied for 43rd after rounds of 85 and 86, respectively.

The Highlanders' 315 was the third-lowest round ever recorded for the opening round of the Big South Championship. Tying RU for fifth are Longwood (ranked 112th in the nation), Charleston Southern and Winthrop.

39th-ranked Coastal Carolina set the pace for the opening 18 holes with its 4-over-par 292. The Chanticleers are led by first-round leader Lena Schaeffner, who shot a 1-under-par 71. Three of Coastal's four counting rounds are in the top-four of the individual standings.

Defending champion and 34th-ranked Campbell brought in a 9-over-par 297 and is in second, nine shots clear of Gardner-Webb (306). Presbyterian College is in fourth at 313, two shots ahead of the quartet tied at 315. High Point rounds out the field in ninth following its 321.

By carding the only sub-par round of the day, Schaeffner takes a one-shot edge over teammate and 92nd-ranked Jessica Alexander and the Camels' Tahnia Ravnjak. A trio is tied for fourth, two shots off the pace: Campbell's Lisbeth Brooks, the Chants' Brittany Henderson (ranked 64th nationally) and the Highlanders' Austin.

The second round of the Big South Women's Golf Championship gets underway at 8 a.m. Monday. Radford is paired with Charleston Southern and High Point. Live scoring is available through Golfstat by clicking here.

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