University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina Starts Bryan National Collegiate in Second Place
April 6, 2007 | Women's Golf
April 6, 2007
BROWN'S SUMMIT, NC - In a stacked field that features 12 of the nation's top 30 teams, the No. 20-ranked University of North Carolina women's golf team played one of its best rounds of the year. The Tar Heels posted a 3-over 291 which was enough to put them in second place after one round of play. They trail leader Purdue by just one stroke moving into day two. Duke, South Carolina, and Florida round out the top five.
The Tar Heels used their strong depth to propel themselves ahead of some of the nation's top ranked as four players cracked the individual top 20. Sophomore Sydney Crane the North Carolina attack with an opening round 71 that was highlighted by a five-hole stretch in which she dropped in four birdies. Crane's one-under has her in a tie for fourth place after the first day. Freshman Kate Thomas is also in the tournament's top ten after nailing four birdies of her own on the way to an even-par 72 that put her in a tie for seventh. Senior Katie Miller and sophomore Lauren Hunt both carded two-over 74s to put them in a tie for 18th. Junior Ann Laney returned to tournament action for the first time this since October 29 and carded a 76 in her Spring debut.
South Carolina's Jenna Pearson took the opening round lead after posting a four-under 68 in a round that had only one bogey. Pearson carries a two-shot lead over Purdue's Stefanie Endstrasser and Furman's Blair Lamb after the first 18 holes. Crane, Purdue's Maria Hernandez, and Virginia's Leah Wigger are just three back of the lead in a tie for fourth.
The Bryan National Collegiate continues with a shotgun start beginning the second round at 11:00 AM Saturday. The tournament is being played on the 6386-yd., par 72 Bryan Park Champions Course in Brown's Summit, N.C.
TEAM STANDINGS (18 HOLES)
1. Purdue 290 +2
2. North Carolina 291 +3
3. Duke 292 +4
4. South Carolina 297 +9
5. Florida 298 +10
6. Virginia 300 +12
7. Auburn 301 +13
8. Georgia 303 +15
9. Tennessee 305 +17
10. UNC-Wilmington 306 +18
11. Ohio State 307 +19
12. Furman 308 +20
13. Wake Forest 309 +21
Florida State 309 +21
15. LSU 311 +23
16. Coll. of Charleston 312 +24
17. NC State 314 +26
18. UNC Greensboro 316 +28
TOP INDIVIDUALS (18 HOLES)
1. Jenna Pearson (S. Carolina) 68 -4
2. Stefanie Endstrasser (Purdue) 70 -2
2. Blair Lamb (Furman) 70 -2
4. Sydney Crane (UNC) 71 -1
4. Maria Hernandez (Purdue) 71 -1
4. Leah Wigger (Virginia) 71 -1
CAROLINA'S INDIVIDUALS (18 HOLES)
T4. Sydney Crane 71 -1
T7. Kate Thomas 72 E
T18. Lauren Hunt 74 +2
T18. Katie Miller 74 +2
T37. Ann Laney 78 +4
![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
