University of North Carolina Athletics
No. 21 Tar Heels In Fifth After Two Rounds At SunTrust Lady Gator Invitational
March 10, 2007 | Women's Golf
March 10, 2007
GAINESVILLE, FLA. -- Following the lead of freshman Kate Thomas, the North Carolina women's golf team landed in fifth Saturday after the first two rounds of the SunTrust Lady Gator Invitational held at the University Golf Club in Gainesville, Florida. Thomas carded a one-over 71 on the morning round and followed with a 74 in the second round to put her in a three-way tie for fourth overall.
Carolina, ranked 21st in this week's Golf World/NGCA Coaches' Poll, combined for a 300 in the first round of play to put them in third following the first 18. The Tar Heels then managed to shave off four strokes for a 296 in the afternoon after Katie Miller, Lauren Hunt, and Sydney Crane all improved from their first round score. Crane showed the strongest improvement as she went from a first-round 83 to a second-round 76.
Like Thomas, Miller also turned in a 74 in the second round after she carded a first-round 76. Hunt's 72 in the afternoon was the best second-round turned in by a Carolina golfer and helped propel her into tenth place heading into Sunday's final round.
Atop the team leader board is host Florida who currently leads second-place TCU by three strokes and third-place Michigan State by four. Turning in five strokes behind Michigan State is Louisville, while the Tar Heels lay two strokes behind Louisville and 11 behind Florida. Michigan State began the second round in fourth after a first-round 301, but shot a 288 in the second 18 to pass Carolina, Louisville, and Tennessee on the leader board.
The overall current leader is Florida's Sandra Gal who sits at one-under par and two strokes ahead of Catherine Matranga of TCU. Tennessee's Marci Turner is in third at four-over, while a trio of golfers are in fourth at five-over. These include: TCU's Camille Blackerby, Louisville's Adrienne White, and Tar Heel Kate Thomas.
The final round of the SunTurst Lady Gator Invitational will be held Sunday with a shotgun start scheduled for 9 a.m. To follow the Tar Heels throughout the day, live scoring of the final round will be available on www.golfstat.com.
TEAM STANDINGS (36 HOLES) 1. Florida 293-292--585 +25 2. TCU 297-291--588 +28 3. Michigan State 301-288--589 +29 4. Louisville 300-294--594 +34 5. North Carolina 300-296--596 +36 6. Tennessee 300-298--598 +38 7. South Florida 304-297--601 +41 8. Central Florida 309-300--609 +49 9. Florida State 305-305--610 +50 10. Kent State 304-307--611 +51 11. Michigan 309-304--613 +53 12. Florida International 307-311--618 +58 13. Georgia State 317-307--624 +64 14. Mississippi 323-302--625 +65 15. Mississippi State 308-320--628 +68 16. UNC Greensboro 320-313--633 +73
INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS (36 HOLES) 1. Sandra Gal (Florida) 69-70--139 -1 2. Catherine Matranga (TCU) 71-70--141 +1 3. Marci Turner (Tennessee) 72-72--144 +4 4. Kate Thomas (UNC) 71-74--145 +5 Camille Blackerby (TCU) 71-74--145 +5 Adrienne White (Louisville) 71-74--145 +5
CAROLINA'S INDIVIDUALS (36 HOLES) T4. Kate Thomas 71-74--145 +5 T10. Lauren Hunt 75-72--147 +7 T27. Katie Miller 76-74--150 +10 T60. Colette Lowe 78-80--158 +18 T66. Sydney Crane 83-76--159 +19
Players Mentioned
