University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Championship
Tar Heels in 16th Place at Mercedes-Benz Women's Championship
October 12, 2007 | Women's Golf
Oct. 12, 2007
Knoxville, TN - The Tar Heels are tied for 16th at 21-over 305 after the first round of the Mercedes-Benz Women's Championship at Cherokee Country Club. Arkansas leads the tournament at one-over 285. Arkansas has a three stroke lead over Alabama and Tennessee. They are tied for second place at four-over 288. Rounding out the top-five are Florida and Purdue at five-over 289 and seven-over 291 respectively.
For the Tar Heels, Kate Thomas of Murwillumbah, Australia finished at two-over 73 and is tied for 27th place. Junior Lauren Hunt of Little River, S.C. fired a five-over 76 and is tied for 49th. Laura Caniff of Russell, K.Y. carded a six-over 77 to put herself tied for 58th. Senior Sydney Crane from Jamestown, N.C. shot 79 and is currently tied for 76th. The final Tar Heel is senior Ann Laney who is tied for 82nd at 11-over.
Kathleen Ekey of Alabama leads the tournament by one stroke at three-under. Five players are tied for second place at two-under par. They are Sandra Gal of Florida, Junthima Gultanamitta of Purdue, Laura Kueny of Mighigan State, and Stacy Lewis and Lucy Nunn of Arkansas.
The second round of the 54-hole event will be played Saturday at Cherokee Country Club, which features a par 71, 5,932-yard layout. Live scoring is available on Golfstat.com
TEAM STANDINGS (18 Holes)
1. Arkansas 285
T2. Alabama 288
T2. Tennessee 288
4. Florida 289
5. Purdue 291
T6. Auburn 292
T6. Michigan State 292
8. Denver 293
9. Virginia 294
10. LSU 295
11. Kent State 296
12. Ohio State 298
13. Furman 300
14. Southern Methodist 302
15. Swedish Jr. Nationals 304
16. North Carolina 305
17. Central Florida 306
TOP INDIVIDUALS (18 Holes)
1. Kathleen Ekey (Alabama) 68
T2. Snadra Gal (Florida) 69
T2. Junthima Gulyanamitta (Purdue) 69
T2. Laura Kueny (Michigan State) 69
T2. Stacy Lewis (Arkansas) 69
T2. Lucy Nunn (Arkansas) 69
Carolina's Individuals
T27 Kate Thomas 73
T49 Lauren Hunt 76
T58 Laura Caniff 77
T76 Sydney Crane 79
T87 Ann Laney 82
![Images from the first round of the 2026 Gators Invitational on Friday, March 6, 2026 at Mark Bostick Golf Course at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL. [Photo by Matt Pendleton Photography for North Carolina Tar Heels Athletics]](https://images.sidearmdev.com/resize?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdxbhsrqyrr690.cloudfront.net%2Fsidearm.nextgen.sites%2Func.sidearmsports.com%2Fimages%2F2026%2F3%2F7%2F260306-NCAAWGOLF-UNC-GatorsInvitational-0828-MattPendleton_copy.jpg&height=340&type=webp)
Players Mentioned
