University of North Carolina Athletics
Tar Heels in Middle of the Pack at Home Match
October 9, 2009 | Women's Golf
Oct. 9, 2009
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -
The University of North Carolina women's golf them opened at the Tar Heel Invitational, their only home tournament of the year, on Friday. The Tar Heels are tied for eighth place with a 296. Michigan State is atop the team leader board with a three-under 285, which is five strokes better than second place.
Sophomore Catherine O'Donnell has her sights set on a repeat title for the Tar Heel Invite, which she shared last year as a freshman. The Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., native is tied for 13th place at even par after the first round of competition.
"I was very pleased with my ball striking," says O'Donnell, "I hit 16 greens and 12 fairways, and I was hitting it close too. I just didn't really make any putts today. They weren't really falling for me, but tomorrow I'm going to make the putts."
Freshman Courtney Gunter and senior Kate Thomas opened their weekend play by firing one over 73's. Both are currently tied for 22nd. Junior Jordan Allyne and junior transfer Sarah Thead were plagued by bogeys all day. Both finished the day with a 78 and in a tie for 64th place.
"I feel like the team was prepared for this event," says head coach Jan Mann, "We had, overall, a good first day. Catherine O'Donnell was even par and Kate Thomas and Courtney Gunter were both one-over, so I felt very good about that. Sarah Thead had a little difficulty starting out, but she was able to get it back together. Even though she didn't have the round she wanted today, I think [Sarah] is going to be fine tomorrow and the same thing with Jordan Allyne. Both of them had little shaky spots, but I think they'll both perform well tomorrow."
Junior Margaret Pentrack and freshman Michelle Ahn played as individuals in the Tar Heel Invitational, thus not eligible to help out in the team finish. Pentrack fired seven-over to tie for 74th. Ahn finished with an 82 for a tie at 90th.
Laura Kueny of Michigan State helped the Spartans earn their impressively low score for the day by firing a three-under 69. Three individuals are tied for second place at two under: Duke's Courtney Ellenbogen, Louisville's Sara-Maude Juneau and Florida State's Hannah Thomson.
The Tar Heel Invitational continues through Sunday at UNC Finley Golf Course, which features a par 72, 6,285-yard layout. The tournament is free and the public is invited to attend.
![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
