University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Cougar Classic
Carolina Golfers Grab Lead At Cougar Classic
September 12, 2010 | Women's Golf
Sept. 12, 2010
HANAHAN, S.C. -
The North Carolina women's golf team opened up its season by grabbing the first-round lead at the Cougar Classic. The Tar Heels fired at three-under-par 285 total and are four strokes ahead of second-place Minnesota. Sophomore Courtney Gunter led the Tar Heel effort by firing a three-under 69 at Yeamans Hall, a par 72 layout.
"It was a good day and I am very pleased with our play," says Tar Heel head coach Jan Mann. `Our three freshman played extremely well in their first tournament. Courtney just played great golf. She played a real solid round. The golf course is in great condition and there are some excellent teams here. We're looking forward to the next couple of days; we've got a lot of golf left to play."
Gunter, a native of Matthews, N.C., grabbed the individual lead with her three-under 69. She birdied three of the last five holes and her round included four birdies and just one bogey. Casey Grice, a freshman from College Station, Tex., fired a one-under-par 71 and is tied for fourth place. She birdied three holes on the front nine followed by one more birdie and three bogeys on the back nine. Another freshman, Jackie Chang, from Paradise Valley, Ariz., carded an even par 72 and is tied for ninth place. Senior Sarah Thead, from Poway, Calif., is one stroke back at one-over 73 in a tie for 16th while junior Catherine O'Donnell, from Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., carded a 75 and is tied for 38th. Katherine Perry, a freshman from Cary, N.C., is playing as an individual and is tied for 54th after posting a 76.
Carolina leads the 21-team field at three-under 285. Minnesota is three stokes back in second place at one-over-par 289 and South Carolina is in third place at three-over 291. Florida is in fourth place at 292 while Oklahoma is fifth at 293, Florida State is sixth at 296 and College of Charleston and Penn State are tied for seventh place with 297 totals.
Carolina's Gunter holds a one-stroke lead over Florida's Mia Picclo and Central Florida's Katie Detlefsen who both shot two-under 70. Carolina's Grice is tied for fourth place at 71 with Oklahoma's Emily Collins, Charleston's Ainhoa Nogales, South Carolina's Samantha Swinehart and Furman's Laura Weam. Tar Heel Jackie Chang is one of seven players tied for ninth place at even par 72.
The 54-hole event continues through Tuesday at Yeamans Hall Golf Club which features a par 72, 6,202-yard layout. Live scoring is available on Golfstat.com.
Players Mentioned
