AUSTIN GUIDES WOMEN’S GOLF IN ROUND ONE AT KIAWAH

Sunday, March 1

Kiawah Island, S.C.

All Day

Radford University

Kiawah Island Classic

Round 1

Photo by: RUHighlanderPhotos.com

3/1/2015 8:00:00 PM | Women's Golf

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ROUND 1

KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. – Senior Alexandra Austin carded a 4-over-par 76 to lead the Radford women's golf team in Sunday's first round of the Edwin Watts / Kiawah Island Spring Classic hosted by the College of Charleston. The Highlanders, who shot a 330 and are tied for 32^nd, played the par 72, 5,901-yard Oak Point Golf Club.

The 40-team field faced brutal weather for the majority of the day. However, Austin was able to keep a steady round going, logging 12 pars and one birdie en route to her team-best scorecard. The Burke, Va., native is tied for 29^th in the 150-golfer field.

Fueled by a scorching start, Larissa Carter posted an 80 for her opening round. The freshman from Owasco, N.Y., birdied two of her first three holes to get to 2-under. Carter is tied for 75^th with 36 holes to go. Khushboo Thiagaraj (83), Olivia Jay (91) and Meagan Board (104) round out the Highlanders' lineup.

North Florida notched a 297 and leads Troy by one shot through 18 holes of competition. College of Charleston (300), Western Carolina (300) and Chattanooga (301) round out the top five.

Behind a 4-under-par 68, Melania Bajo Geijo of Jacksonville State is the individual frontrunner by one stroke over Samford's Bailey Gray. Only seven golfers reached red figures on the day.

Radford is paired with Jacksonville State and Bucknell for Monday's second round. The trio will start its round on the first hole at the par 72, 5,964-yard Osprey Point Golf Club. Tee times for the group are scheduled between 9:51 a.m. and 10:27 a.m.