Women Golfers Third At Cougar Classic

Sunday, September 11

Hanahan, S.C.

TBA

North Carolina

Cougar Classic

September 11, 2011 | Women's Golf

By: UNC Athletic Communications

Sept. 11, 2011

Complete Results

HANAHAN, S.C. - The North Carolina women's golf team opened up its fall campaign at the Cougar Classic and is in third place following the first round. Carolina fired a 3-under-par 285 in the first round finishing strong on the final holes as Carolina's four counting scorers fired eight birdies and just two bogies on the final five holes. Tar Heel sophomore Katherine Perry is tied for sixth place in the individual race.

"It was a good start," said Tar Heel head coach Jan Mann. "Overall, the team played well. There were a few holes that we need to play better. We are looking forward to tomorrow's round."

Perry, from Cary, N.C., carded four birdies and just one bogey in Sunday's first round. She birdied two of the last four holes for a 3-under-par 69 and is tied for sixth place. Sophomore Casey Grice, playing as an individual, is one stroke behind Perry at 2-under 70. The College Station, Texas, native posted three birdies and three bogies on the front nine and then birdied two of the last four holes for her 2-under total which put her tied for 10th. Another sophomore, Jackie Chang, had a strong finish and is tied for 13th at 1-under 71. Chang, from Paradise Valley, Ariz., was 2-over going into the 15th hole, but birdied three of the last four holes to finish at 1-under. Junior Courtney Gunter, from Matthews, N.C., was 3-over going into the 16th hole and then birdied two of the last three holes to finish at 1-over 73 and is tied for 25th. Catherine O'Donnell, from Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., posted a 4-over 76 and is tied for 59th.

LSU fired an 8-under-par 280 to grab the lead of the 22-team field. The Tigers hold a four-stroke advantage over Florida which fired a 4-under 284, just one stroke ahead of Carolina's 285 total. NC State and Alabama are tied for fourth place with 1-under 287 totals.

Erica Popson of Tennessee grabbed the individual lead by firing a blistering 6-under 66. There are three players tied for second place at 5-under 67 - Duke Laetitia Beck and LSU's Austin Ernst and Tessa Teachman. Haley Sanders of Mississippi is alone in fifth place at 4-under 68 while Carolina's Perry is tied for sixth place at 3-under 69 along with Alabama's Jennifer Kirby, Georgia's Emilie Burger and College of Charleston's Kathy Boehm.

The 54-hole event continues through Tuesday at Yeamans Hall Golf Club which features a par 72, 6,205-yard layout. Live scoring is available on Golfstat.com.